Psiram - User contributions [en]

Oligoscan

2018-12-03T15:48:42Z

Halbmond:

'''Oligoscan''' (also known as 'cell check' or 'Zell Check') is the name of a pseudo-medical device produced by the Luxemburg manufacturer Luxometrix. Important trading partner is the French company Physioquanta. According to Oligoscan information, it is possible to measure the so-called "mineral status" of a customer/patient and their exposure to heavy metals. Measurement is completed in a very short time (20 seconds), and no blood test or any other invasive test is required. In Germany, the device is also marketed as 'Zell Check'.

In reality, the device originally was developed for the printing industry. It is a colorimeter produced by a company by the name of X-Rite (model i1Photo pro2).
The cooperation between Lucometrix and X-Rite has not been made public by either company.

There is no evidence the device is for the specified medical purpose. German language advertisements for Oligoscan carry a note specifically for customers: "Note: The Oligoscan® analysis can / must not be used for medical diagnosis."

CEO of Physioquanta company is Guillaume Moreau (born 1972). As early as March 2010, Physioquanta was banned in France from promoting its pseudo-medical devices (including Physiodétox, Physioscan (see Physiospect), Physioalcali, Quantarelax, Quantapulse), because these devices lack proof of the efficacy claimed in medical use.

Because there is no evidence that Oligoscan tests represent a recognized procedure, the tests cannot be billed as “lab exams”. The customer/patient must pay the bill themselves, since health insurances do not cover the costs.
Customers have to provide their name and other personal information for each Oligoscan measurement, and this information is provided to a remote server via internet. How data protection is guaranteed remains unclear.

==Principle of photometry==
In general, a photometer is an instrument which measures light intensity or the optical properties of solutions or surfaces. A monochromatic light source radiates through the sample. Part of the light is absorbed by the analyte and a detector enables determination of the analyte’s concentration in the sample (Source: Wikipedia).

According to the National Physical Laboratory, ''“Photometry is the measurement of electromagnetic radiation weighted by the human eye's response. This response changes with wavelength”''.

''“In photometry, the word 'luminous' is used to indicate that measurements have been made using a detection system (called a photometer) that has a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. The two principal photometric scales maintained at NPL are of luminous intensity and luminous flux. Setting up appropriate geometries permits calibrations of other quantities, such as luminance from luminous intensity standards. NPL has extensive facilities available for the photometric measurement of both sources and detectors, including photometers, luxmeters, luminance meters and colour temperature meters.”''

The British National Physical Laboratory provides training courses in photometric techniques and offers their expertise in consultancy services. www.npl.co.uk/principles-of-photometry

Oligoscan buyers and users are only trained in how the device is placed on the hand and in utilizing the provided software. All this takes little time, less than an hour.

==Principle of spectroscopy==
Spectroscopy studies the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter in all its forms. In Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) the sample to be tested for metal and trace elements is vaporized. Atoms and ions contained in the atomic vapor are excited into emission of radiation. The radiation is passed to the spectrometer optics where it is dispersed into its spectral components. From the range of wavelengths emitted by each element (or metal), measurements take place. The radiation intensity which is proportional to the concentration of the element (or metal) is recalculated, based on calibration curves, and is shown as percent concentration.<ref>https://www.spectro.com/products/optical-emission-spectroscopy/arc-spark-stationary-oes-working-principle</ref> Oligoscan does not fulfill any of the principles that would apply to metal analysis.

==The Procedure==
Oligoscan is a portable optical scanner which wants the practitioner scan a few points of the patient's skin, namely four points of the palm. According to Oligoscan’s safety data sheet, the device contains UV diodes or "Blue-Light small source" diodes which emit light flashes, 200 times per second, in the spectral range of 380 - 730 nm. The data sheet also talks of tungsten wire light bulbs as a source of light.

Similarly, Xrite provides for the same measurements (200/sec) at the same wavelength (380 to 730nm) for its colorimeter i1pro, another indication of Oligoscan’s origin.

Oligoscan information states that a total of 34 elements or metals are determined “intracellularly” (i.e. within the cell). Oligoscan advertising videos demonstrate how a light flashes briefly at the bottom side of the device, and according to Oligoscan, the light reflected from the skin represents the actual metal analysis. Elements analyzed are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, plus manganese, boron, chromium, cobalt, germanium, iodine, lithium, molybdenum, sulfur, selenium and vanadium as well as the "heavy metals" aluminum, antimony, silver, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth (bismuth), cadmium, mercury, nickel, platinum, lead, thallium and thorium. Aluminum and barium are no longer listed as heavy metals, Physioquanta now uses the term "toxic metals" in recent advertising.

The scanner is connected to a PC which sends the so-called measured data "to the central security server of Oligoscan" and "within a few seconds", results come back, consisting of a numerical value for each of the mentioned chemical elements. These ‘test values’ are not given in units.
Serious laboratory results, for instance, will be presented in units. For a lead measurement in erythrocytes (which represent intracellular lead measurements), a test value of e.g. 50 should be given as 50mcg lead/l (microgram per liter).
In comparison, Oligoscan would report their intracellular lead value as simply '50'. Fifty what - mcg, mg, kg, centimeters, or mmol lead per cell, or per weight or per liter or square centimeter? This omission alone represents a useless measurement.

Oligoscan Test Results are compared to a so-called Norm or Standard Value. For instance, the Oligoscan result for Calcium is 599.0 and that result is compared to the ‘Norm’ of 298 to 599, and again no unit is provided for either, test result or Norm. In laboratory medicine, this is unheard of and unacceptable.
To make the Oligoscan Report visually appealing, colorful bar graphs place the respective test values into categories of Low, Normal or High. Toxic metals are shown as Norm, Increased and Surplus.

In all of laboratory medicine, reference values are statistically defined. On an international level, laboratory rules and regulations are very clear on this. There is no reference in the Oligoscan report or in Oligoscan’s information on how ‘Norms’ were defined, what the statistical logic of a ‘Low, High or Surplus’ is and how statistics are evaluated, and what they are based on. Number of cells? Body weight or centimeter of body weight?
Can the people who developed the Oligoscan software be so ignorant? How did they come up with ‘Norms’ or ‘Standards’, where did the statistical data come from and why are units omitted?

Another question comes to mind: Are test values provided with four decimal points to create an impression of analytical sensitivity? And why is this analytical sensitivity not defined anywhere?

Other tables include "interpretations" of test results. For example, the Oligoscan report diagnoses metabolic function ("Metabolism 33%") or the emotional status ("Emotional status 71%") and goes as far as predicting a diabetic predisposition ("Predisposition Diabetes 50%").

Furthermore, the Oligoscan report is "the basis for individual and effective supplementation" (i.e., the intake of nutritional supplements). If the Oligoscan report shows “high” or “surplus” test values, which may be interpreted as “heavy metal contamination", the client is recommended to undergo chelation therapy.
It should be noted that in chelation therapy, the process of metal detoxification may involve the intravenous use of synthetic chemicals, called chelation agents. Chelation protocols state that a thorough laboratory evaluation, including that of renal function, must take place before chelation is started.

Can a chelation therapist base their evaluation on Oligoscan results? Even Oligoscan themselve state that this should not be the case.

==Lack of plausibility and validation==
Plausibility checks are part of the analytical validation process.
The Oligoscan device is said to simultaneously measure different elements in the cell interior. Since the elements are not in an unbound (elemental) form, but are incorporated into larger molecules, spectroscopic analysis requires that the metal compounds found in blood, urine or cells are broken down before measurements can take place.

For example, calcium is not present in the body in its elemental or inorganic form, but as a mineral compound such as calcium phosphate. To spectroscopically measure calcium in the body, the calcium compound (in this case calcium phosphate) must be broken down. If that process of sample digestion does not take place, the spectrophotometer cannot detect inorganic calcium. However, the Oligoscan device reports inorganic calcium.

Another example will be the measurement of mercury. If mercury enters the body as methylmercury, that substance would have to be broken down, using acid digestion and heat, before inorganic mercury can be detected spectroscopically.
Oligoscan shows test results reflecting inorganic metals (including calcium or mercury), but no sample processing has taken place.
For colorimetric measurements, the sample must also be prepared. Oligoscan claims to measure metals without the need of any sample preparation taking place. It is safe to say that, at this time, Harry Potter may be able to achieve this in a film, but in today’s chemistry, no such thing is possible.

According to Oligoscan, the device is placed on the skin of the palm. If the light beam passed through the skin, it would have to pass bones, tendons and flesh. Which cells would it measure, and how does the device decide which cells to select or not? How is the device able to focus/measure intracellular only?

On top of all this, there is the problem of calibration.
The Oligoscan deivce is a color scanner and for this purpose, it is calibrated on a white point which is located on the device. Because it is a color scanner that is color-calibrated, it can define shades of skin color. Nothing more.
If Oligoscan measured metals at the cellular level as it claims, calibration would have to take place with tissue containing known amounts of analytes such as lead or calcium. Anything else would be comparing apples and oranges.

For instance, before a spectrometer can start testing urine samples, it must be calibrated with urine reference solutions containing known amounts of the elements to be tested. If blood metals need to be tested, the spectrometer needs to be calibrated on blood reference solutions containing specifically defined amounts of metals. If tissue needs to be tested, similar procedures take place.
To validate test results of a given specimen, measurements must be compared to the ‘known’ reference solutions.
Oligoscan, however, calibrates on a white point. How does that relate to metal testing on a cellular level?
Furthermore, since every person has different skin properties (thickness, color, permeability, etc.), the device would have to be calibrated for each human and each element.

Since the Oligoscan measurement takes less than one minute, it would take sheer magic to calibrate and perform the metal tests and print out a colorful report, all within a very limited time frame.

Another argument against Oligoscan is that spectroscopic measurements of metals through the skin and inside the cell would be of very low concentrations. Such measurements require special sample preparation and special, highly sensitive equipment which can only be operated by highly trained personnel, all of which requires much more time than a mere 20 seconds per test.

The basics and applications of spectrophotometry are described in more detail at Wikipedia [8]. The principle-related limitations - and thus the impossibility of the functioning of the Oligoscan device - are described in the textbooks of Analytical Chemistry, in particular those on Instrumental Analysis.

In order to validate the suitability of Oligoscan for diagnostic purposes, studies would be needed that compare Oligoscan test results with those from conventional laboratory analysis obtained from blood, urine or tissue samples. It would also be necessary to examine, for example, to what extent measurements taken on the palm of the hand reflect concentrations in the rest of the body. [9] Such studies do not exist, but when asked, Oligoscan promoters often state that studies are in process. Physioquanta confuses and misleads with a list of 35 publications entitled "Scientific References". [10] None of these publications are concerned with such research investigations or with the Oligoscan process. Instead, articles listed reflect on the physiological importance of minerals, etc. Project Health Consulting GmbH, the company distributing the device under the name of 'Zell-Check', argues that the detection of mineral deficiencies on the basis of a blood sample is less accurate than the measurement with Zell-Check, and that Zell-Check has the advantage that minerals are detected intracellularly and not only in the blood [11] (Note: Red blood cell testing reflects on intracellular levels).

As of 2018, no serious report validating Oligoscan has been published. In discussion rounds of users, failed measurements are mentioned which did not hold up in comparison. Comparisons with laboratory results are said to have failed. There are also reports of patients with persistent chronic diseases, in which Oligoscan established values "in the normal range".

It has not been proven that repeated measurements taken in one and the same patient hold up to comparison. In fact, the manufacturers do not seem to like such repetitive measurements. While the user has to pay a fee of 30 Euros per test, the manufacturer also claims that repeat measurements lead to so-called "quantum physical changes", making a comparison impossible. With this argument, the method practically cannot be proven wrong and therefore is non-scientific.
Apparently, clients must believe in results, and from the onset, a repeatability/replicability check is prevented.

==Business model and marketing==
For each of the automatically generated "analyses", the practitioners will charge between 40 and 80 euros (or 60 US $). The practitioner must connect their PC and the device via Internet with an Oligoscan server. Whether patient data are transmitted and how data protection is granted remains unclear. For each connection and thus for each measurement, the client has to pay 30 Euro in Germany. The Oligoscan client has to pay for 60 analyses in advance. For the device itself, a price of $ 3,000 was set in the US in 2015. In addition, $ 500 were charged for "activation" and another $ 250 for "registration" and "personalization" of the Oligoscan online interface.[12] In Germany, the device will cost just under 2,000 Euros. According to the Dutch consumer protection organization Skepp, an Oligoscan scanner will cost € 6500.[13]

In German-speaking countries (EU), Oligoscan is offered by the following companies:
*Oligotrade UG in D-76479 Steinmauern, Germany
*HOD/OLIGOTRADE - Oligoscan Austria in 76698 Ubstadt-Weiher, Austria
*Mitocare GmbH in Munich, Germany (actually a provider of nutritional supplements)
*IMC UG - Innovative Medical Care in D-66111 Saarbrücken, Germany
*Vertrieb Neue Medizin in D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany. There website vnm-gmbh.com is now offline.
*Cellopart (Gabriele Flöck), D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
*(Swiss) Holigomed AG in Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland
*In Germany, the analogous product under the name Zell-Check is competitively distributed by Projekt Gesundheit Consulting GmbH in D-14913 Schlenzer.

Oligoscan in other countries
*Perfect health solutions in L-3937 Mondercange, Luxemburg
*In the Netherlands, Oligoscan is offered by Oligoscan Europe, a daughter company of Alethomantis (Health Optimization Devices BV, ALETHOMANTIS, Internationaal Biomedisch Centrum, Leende and the Dutch doctor Raymond Pahlplatz)
*In France, Oligoscan is offered by the company la Nemopharm sarl. Director is Guillaume Moreau.
*Oligoscan is distributed in Hong Kong by Spiren Ventures.
*Distribution in the United States (OligoScan North America, LLC) was led in 2014 by Rashid Buttar, a controversial osteopath who has been targeted for ineffective cancer and autism therapies by the state of North Carolina
* In Australia, Jon Gamble.email: jon@karuna, healthcare.com.au. www.oligoscan.net.au

German physician (ling in the USA) Dietrich Klinghardt promotes Oligoscan in a publication on Lyme Disease.

==Similar products==

• Zell check
• Physio scan
• MiltaLed or Milta Led (Quantapuls, Miltapod, In Russia: Rikta)
• BioPhotonic Scanner
• Recently, there is a SCIO variant which is a device that supposedly can quantitatively detect ingredients of food by measuring reflected rays of light. The measurement result is displayed via an app on the display of smartphones.

==Literature==
There is no serious literature regarding Oligoscan to be mentioned (as of May 2018). Only a favourable uncritical promotional product can be found in the alternative medical journal “Erfahrungsheilkunde”, Haug-Verlag. The author of this publication is Jesse De Groodt, a physiotherapist and osteopath, who is no specialist in the field of clinical chemistry or laboratory medicine. He is also co-owner of Holigomed AG and a licensee for the distribution of OligoScan in Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Germany and Austria.

In summary, publications are missing on important issues such as accuracy of results, reproducibility of results, possible interferences, statistical results of measurements on the same subjects and comparisons of results with other measurement methods. Also, no concrete information on the wavelengths used are provided.

Jesse De Groodt: OligoScan - Messen von Mineralien, Spurenelementen und toxischen Metallen auf Gewebsebene, Erfahrungsheilkunde (Haug Verlag), 2016; 65(03): S. 156-162, DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-105092

==Weblinks==
*http://www.devicewatch.org/reports/oligoscan/overview.shtml (english)
*http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000021965714 (french)

==Psiram articles in other languages==
* [https://www.psiram.com/fr/index.php/OLIGOSCAN Français]
* [https://www.psiram.com/de/index.php/Oligoscan German]

==Sources==
<references/>

Main Page

2016-08-28T09:54:05Z

Halbmond: Rejected the last text change (by 127.0.0.1) and restored revision 2763 by Cauthon

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Francis Talbot

2016-06-13T12:24:47Z

Halbmond: Rejected the last text change (by 127.0.0.1) and restored revision 2770 by Halbmond: Spam

[[image:Manitonquat2.png|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
[[image:Manitonquat3.jpg|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK 3,750 (€397) and SEK 3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK 2,050 resp. SEK 1,300 (€ 219 and € 139 ) and 4-14 paying SEK 1,000 resp. SEK 900 (€ 107 and € 96).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK 100 (€10) per night resp. SEK 200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

Francis Talbot

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Francis Talbot

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Morgan Maez

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[[image:MorganEaglebear.png|thumb]]
'''Morgan Maez''' aka Eaglebear, born 1950 presumably in Pagosa Springs/Colorado, is one of the longest established plastic shamans on the Newage market. He claims to be a member of the Apache nation and a great-great-son of Goyathlay [Geronimo].
According to information obtainable online, Maez' birthname was Margarita George Maez which he seems to have changed legally.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1440.0 </ref> Further biographical information is not available online. He seems to be a resident of Asheville/North Carolina.

==Legend - and Facts==
Maez claims to be a trained Apache medicine person, even being "one of the few living Apache medicine men", and having received a respective training by his elders. However, both the Fort Sills Apache, in 1999, and the Mescalero Apache nation in New Mexico confirmed Maez is no descendant of Geronimo and did not receive a training as a ceremonial person.
<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~mike.wicks/eaglebear.html </ref> It must furthermore be noticed that if Maez did happen to be a member of the nation, he should be able to name the band he belongs to and his ancestral lines. He has, however, never provided such information.

However, in a recent advertisement for a "Shamanic Congress" in Spain from May 20-22, 2016, Maez now gets described as a Chiricahua Apache [the Chiricahua now live at both Fort Sill and the Mescalero reservation] born "at one of the poorest reservations of the USA in New Mexico".<ref>http://www.shing.eu/english-home/shamanism-xxi-1st-congress/participant-shamans/ </ref> While it may certainly go down well with his European and Euro-American audience to describe the Mescalero reservation as extremely poor, this does not quite reflect the facts, since the reservation has been quite successful in introducing an ecologically-oriented tourism and runs a skiing resort<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_Apache </ref>, earns money with hunting and fishing licences, runs a hotel and casino and two museums, and has been successfully active in cattle breeding and lumber industry since several decades.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mescalero#Heutige_Situation </ref>

A further claim made by Maez is an alleged training as a Lakota medicine person, too. Articles and information dating back to the early 1990ies also mention he was allegedly trained by Cheyenne and Cree medicine persons.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/45958015/ </ref> While it is quite usual a practice of plastic shamans to claim trainings with several indigenous nations, such trainings do not occur in reality and are but a certain indicator the claiming person is a fake medicine man.

It becomes apparent from Maez' use of Lakota terms like ''inipi'' and ''chanupa'' [sic] that he does not exploit Apache spirituality, but sells Lakota ceremonies.

In older articles and biographical information provided online, Maez is also said to have studied child psychology at the University of Utah, and parapsychology at the University of California in Berkeley. While there is indeed one person who earned a Ph.D. in Parapsychology from Berkeley<ref>http://www.williamjames.com/diploma.htm </ref>, there was never a respective course offered there. Maez further claims to have received certifications as a hypnotherapist and to be trained in acupressure, acupuncture, astrology and martial arts.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/45958015/ </ref> All these practices do not reflect indigenous customs.

Another artile dating back to August 1990 reports that Maez allegedly adopted 16 children who came from families with substance-abusing parents.<ref>Star News, Wilmington, North Carolina, August 24, 1990</ref>

Another claim was Maez' cooperation with an alleged Maori "medicine man" by the name of Joseph Winterhawk Martin aka "Airiki Wairua". Reports obtainable online claim that Martin was no Maori and not recognized by them, and mention that he was sentenced to a term in prison, probably a life term, for having exploited his position as a boy-scout leader to sexually abuse several of the children, all under age.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1440.msg22672#msg22672</ref>

==Activities==
Maez has been active as a plastic shaman for more than 30 years. There is one German Newage author and lecturer by the name of Peter Orzechowski who claims to have been trained by Maez between 1986 and 1991 and to have received his authorisation to do "shamanic healing rituals".<ref>http://www.bad-camberg.info/cms/index.php/veranstaltungen/976-schamanische-hypnose </ref>

According to information provided online, he has not been active only in the US, but also in Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, Cuba, Russia, China, Israel, Haiti, Madagascar and the Vatican, where he sold indigenous ceremonies like the Sundance, alleged pipe ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.shing.eu/english-home/shamanism-xxi-1st-congress/participant-shamans/ </ref> Apart from activities in Mexico and Spain, activities in the countries claimed cannot be verified from material obtainable online.

==Non-profit Church==
In December 1995, Maez founded his own church, the "Church of Indigenous Spiritualism, Inc." in North Carolina. Online platforms providing business information name the founder as "Morgan Eaglebear Maez" and a location in Asheville/North Carolina.<ref>http://businessprofiles.com/details/church-of-indigenous-spiritualism-inc/NC-0385273</ref> The church has managed to obtain a tax-exempt status which it apparently keeps until today. Online research for any activities of this church does not yield any results, although the church remains active officially.

==Criticism==
The most obvious criticism arises from the fact that Maez is not recognised as a tribal member by either the Fort Sill Apache nor the Mescalero Apache nation, both of which include persons of Chiricahua Apache ancestry. As an alleged descendant of Goyathlay, Maez should be able to present family in at least one of these nations which he apparently can not. According to information published in 1999 by Ms Ruey H. Dawson, then chairperson of the Fort Sill Apache in Oklahoma, Maez is not enrolled with either the Fort Sill nor the Mescalero Apache nations and did not receive any training as a medicine person by either of the nations. As Dawson points out, the nations do very well know their ceremonial persons.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~mike.wicks/eaglebear.html </ref>

Maez' alleged academic merits also cannot be verified, and indeed seem at least in part questionable (the degree in "parapsychology"). His further alleged qualification in hypnotherapy also cannot be verified, and the others relate to Newage practices. Thus Maez appears as another Newage vendor on the market mixing alleged indigenous ceremonies with esoteric practice.

However, there are also several reports regarding his conduct available online which accuse him of including sexual practices into alleged indigenous ceremonies. As a rule of thumb, any ceremony offered including such practices may be written off as a fake. Additionally, Maez seems to employ such practice to control his students resp. church members, not only by causing shame, but also by alienating them from family and friends in the course of time. Reports particularly mention alleged rites including homosexual activities among and with his students with the claim of their need to overcome homophobic notions and inhibitions. Other reports also mention Maez planned to engage in sexual activities with girls under age.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1440.msg22672#msg22672 </ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1440.msg22679#msg22679 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Morgan Maez}}

==References==
<references />

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maez, Morgan}}

Morgan Eaglebear Maez

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#redirect [[Morgan Maez]]

Eaglebear

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ZEGG

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Halbmond: /* Cooperation with other Vendors on the Newage Market */

'''ZEGG''' is the abbreviation for "Centre for Experimental Cultural Design", a community of mostly Newage oriented persons in the town of Bad Belzig near Berlin founded in 1991. On its website, ZEGG goes by the name of "ZEGG - Centre for Research and Education GmbH".<ref>ZEGG - Forschungs- und Bildungszentrum GmbH, Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 89, 14806 Bad Belzig</ref> The number of persons living there is said to be about 100.

The settlement of ZEGG GmbH of today approx. 37,000 acres is an aggregation of buildings, tents, and camp grounds situated in a forest. The premises also houses several businesses and conference facilities. In the centre of the premises is a large, round space with a fountain which is also being used as a "place of power", for meditations, and as a "cosmic antenna". There is an Ashram group as well as a group doing tree meditation, sweatlodges and a bookshop offering Newage literature. ZEGG is also used as a conference centre for several commercial vendors of seminars on the psycho market.

During the reign of National Socialism, the premises were used as a holiday and sports camp. In German Democratic Republic, they were used by paramilitary "Society for Sports and Technics" (GST). In 1991, the premises were sold at a price of DM 2.1 million. The aim was to build an "international conference and research centre" which was to supply ''models for a socially and ecologically sustainable life''. In the beginning, critics and concerned persons insinuated inhabitants were practicing "free love" in the way of promiscuous sexual relations in their community. The leadership of initiator Dieter Duhm was described as patriarchal.

Publications are to be found in the magazines "ZEGG" and "ZEGG newsletter".

Typical for ZEGG is the "Forum", a practice reminding of psychodrama based on the so-called self-expressions as practiced within Action Analytical Organisation (AAO). In its course, a participant portrays his emotions, wishes, and problems in the centre of an audience in order to present them to the collective.

==Dieter Duhm==
ZEGG was founded by Dieter Duhm, a psychologist and author born in 1942, who was influenced by Otto Muehl's "Action Analytical Organisation" (AAO). One of the more popular proponents is actor Barbara Rütting. Meanwhile, Duhm lives in Portugal, in a "planetary healing biotope" by the name of Tamera also founded by him. Duhm has also initiated a "Peace School Mirja" and a "Political Ashram" in Tamera as training centres for future "peace workers".
Duhm also invented a "political theory" in which he uses terms like holography, chaos research, system theory, and morphogenetic field theory (coined by Rupert Sheldrake) which is expected to cause peace worldwide.

==ZEGG GmbH==
ZEGG GmbH (Ltd.) is the owner of the premises and organiser of the profitable conference centre. All adult and permanent inhabitants of ZEGG are said to be compelled to buy a subparticipation, so that in 2003, ZEGG GmbH had seven main shareholders and 112 persons holding subparticipations.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. p. 119 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf auccessed </ref> A subparticipation was sold at Euro 2,250 in 2003.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. p. 125 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref>

ZEGG GmbH is financed by contributions, monthly rent payments by inhabitants which in 2004 amounted to € 340<ref>http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/?dig=2004/07/24/a0258</ref> (more recent figures are not available); according to figures dating from 2003, monthly payments amounted to a total of Euro 450. This is specified with an amount of Euro 320 due for rent, a board fee of Euro 125, and a voluntary contribution for the children of the community between Euro 5 and Euro 50.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. Appendix 2, Interview 2. http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref> According to the information provided, the actual cost for inhabitants varied between Euro 450 and Euro 500. There is also a promotional society by the name of ZEGG-Club to which all members of the community belong.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. Appendix 2, Interview 4. http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref>

A further source of income for ZEGG GmbH are rents paid by resident enterprises. Both resident enterprises and inhabitant members of the community are said to be financially independent.<ref name="sensaciones">http://www.sensaciones.de/de/link/zegg-zentrum-fuer-experimentelle-gesellschafts-gestaltung</ref> External communication emphasises that ZEGG is financially independent and self-supporting.<ref name="ecovillages">http://www.ecovillages.eu/content/view/462/28/</ref>

ZEGG organises four festivals annually which see several hundred visitors.
Nonpaid work input by inhabitants and visitors may be seen as another source of income.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/seminarzentrum/terminkalender/venueevents/33-zegg-mitarbeit.html</ref>

==Origins and Development==
Giving a detailed account of the project is a challenging task, since independent sources are rare and some publications, e.g. Wikipedia, happen to be of a rather advertising character due to ZEGG inhabitants and proponents contributing. Likewise the renaming of projects, the re-use of names previously used for different projects, the number of projects founded etc. do not favour transparency. All in all, ZEGG's external communication is not oriented towards transparency:
:''"ZEGG is anxious to address as broad an audience as possible. Its public presentation [...] remains rather short and superficial. Material and information suitable to grant insights into ZEGG structures, its ideology, or contents of Forum training are kept from the public."''<ref name="Brünzels">http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf)</ref>

ZEGG was founded in 1991 by Dieter Duhm, Sabine Lichtenfels, and other persons. Duhm in particular had been influenced by Otto Muehl's Action Analytical Organisation AAO whose principles he sought to apply within his own organisation by the name of Bauhütte [i.e. site office] beginning in 1978.<ref name="sensaciones" /> Other ZEGG publications name Duhm and Lichtenfels as the founders of a Project Meiga from which ZEGG emerged.<ref name="ausfuehrlich-02">http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-02.php</ref> Meiga is described as a ''"network of individuals and projects"; its ''"members were participants of Bauhütte (1983-1986), a community experiment under the direction of Dieter Duhm and later of individuals from ZEGG and Tamera"''<ref>http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-03.php</ref>, or in a previous chapter, not quite in congruence: ''"Many of the community members belonging to the supportive group of ZEGG in 1991 had been members of »Bauhütte« (1983-1986), a »pioneer community« under the direction of Dieter Duhm"''.<ref name="ausfuehrlich-02" />

Another way of description claims Project Meiga was founded ''"as an alternative to Friedrichshof"'' [i.e. to Muehl's AAO9] and "''from its beginnings had contrarian thoughts: individual autonomy, mental pluralism, and mental orientation by experience"''.<ref name="coforum">http://coforum.de/?3193</ref> On the other hand, there are quotes by Duhm, particularly from the early years, like the following one dated 1991:
:''"These charismatic communities - even Poona and Friedrichshof - in a fatal sense of the word were also the 'democratic' ones, since demos, the people, wanted the Führer; it wanted to be directed, as it was only able to function and be able to have a community this way. This structure is emotionally valid until today, even if slogans claim differently. All well-meant sentences of grassroots democracy and individual autonomy fail at the psychic realities of the participants."'''<ref name="coforum" />

ZEGG at least keeps employing the argument of alleged grassroots structures and the character of an experiment of living and working together as well as an orientation towards ecology and sustainability for attempts to gain access to a broad undogmatic left environment, to alternative ecological and to Newage circles, but also to the peace movement.

===Excursus: Control of External Perception by ZEGG===
Through according processing and presentation of information, ZEGG tried and still tries to counter the criticism emerging since the mid-1980ies and either deny valid points of criticism or whitewash it with some verbosity. Apparently part of the respective tactics include divergences in information to a lesser or greater extent in different media; in some cases, this even comes close to fact resistance, so e.g. when the project founder Dieter Duhm gets characterised as "one of the leading intellectuals of the 68 movement".<ref name="WP_Geschichte">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Geschichte_und_Kritik_am_ZEGG</ref>

Another aspect of diverging information in different media is e.g. providing differing data regarding founding dates, so that, as one example, the German Wikipedia at one point in time claimed ZEGG predecessor "Bauhütte" was founded in 1978<ref name="WP117820090">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=117820090&oldid=117521770</ref> and English Wikipedia still carries this information<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG_%28community%29#History_of_the_Ideas</ref>, while a ZEGG declaration states Bauhütte was founded in 1983. The German article lost some information on the so-called ZEGG Forum in 2012 while the paragraph describing decision structures was trimmed and rendered more vague in the process.<ref name="WP109072580">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=109072580&oldid=105590460</ref> Critical literature listed sometimes got deleted<ref name="WP137938738">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=137938738&oldid=137394241</ref>, as well as the term "esoteric".<ref name="WP120772997">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=120772997&oldid=120119560</ref> In April 2013, another article critical of ZEGG was deleted and replaced by a favourable one written for a local newspaper by to inhabitants of ZEGG.<ref name="WP117820090" />

In 2011 already, paragraphs providing information on the occupations of inhabitants and ZEGG finances were deleted:
:''"A substantial part of the community works in the fields of accomodation and catering for guests, organising of seminars, agriculture and taking care of the premises. The fields of activity are self-governed, decisions will be taken by the workers. All inhabitants also do volunteer work."''<ref name="WP86952640">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=86952640&oldid=86952148</ref>
:''"One requirement when purchasing the premises was that an amount equalling the sum spent [DM 2.1 million] had to be invested into the premises. This was realised by financial contributions to ZEGG GmbH [Ltd.] from supporters and bank loans."''<ref name="WP86952640" />

From November 2010 resp. March 2011, two persons connected to ZEGG contribute to both the German and English Wikipedia articles who also effected the changes mentioned above; the conflict of interest seems to go unnoticed. The changes and deletions effected by these persons contribute to casting a light as positive as possible unto ZEGG while problems addressed will be either deleted discretely or played down, and merits get highlighted.

===Further Associations and Organisations===
A multitude of further associations and organisations have been founded out of ZEGG resp. Project Meiga, with some of them continuing until today while others have ceased to exist.

Among those groups inactive today is e.g. Sexpeace which may have been readjusted during its existence, since it is sometimes described as a group of artists while other reports speak of a "project to save free love".<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/de.org.ccc/Uu13kb3qzOk</ref> Similarly, the drama group "The Unredeemed" and the youth projects "Undersky" and "Jetzt e.V. - Youth developing the Future" have become inactive.

This is also true of an organisation ZEGG describes as a humanitarian aid project by the name of "Aktion Perestroika e.V." which, however, is still existant in a list of associations; although the address supplies a different street number which may be due to a simple typing error, the phone number listed is an extension of the ZEGG telephone number.<ref>http://www.vereinsverzeichnis.eu/verein,13617,.html</ref> The association Aktion Perestroika e.V. was founded in 1990 with the claim of providing humanitarian aid and donating respective goods to Russia; one founding member was Sten Linnander who according to information provided by himself previously had been a member of "Bauhütte" from 1983 on; he became the president of Aktion Perestroika. Prior to joining Bauhütte, Linnander is said to have been a member of Muehl's AAO at Friedrichshof.<ref name="nadir_all">https://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/zegg_all.html#xtocid323348</ref> Between 1994 and 2002, Linnander lived in Arizona where he says to have studied indigenous shamanism.<ref>http://p2pfoundation.net/Sten_Linnander</ref> Phoenix/Arizona is the home of the headquarters of [[Deer Tribe]], with whom ZEGG cooperates in Bad Belzig; several vendors from Deer Tribe offer seminars at their premises.

Another inactive project is "Haven Arctica" which was also directed by Sten Linnander; it used the motto "Melt your Hearts and not the Arctic" and meant to combine ''"ecological, political, and spiritual research matters for healing and protecting the Arctic with ideas for human healing"'', for which one intended to call and whistle for polar lights in the north of Sweden.<ref name="nadir_all" />

Nature and Wilderness School Achillea still seems to be active. One of its co-founders also runs Ökotec GmbH<ref>http://www.lichtpraxis.eu/ern%C3%A4hrung/wildkr%C3%A4uter/wildkr%C3%A4uter-2/</ref> which is said to belong to the environment of ZEGG. According to information given by ZEGG, Ökotec GmbH is financially and organisationally independent; it uses rooms in the ZEGG premises at Bad Belzig.<ref name="nadir_03">https://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/zegg_03.html</ref>

The so-called "Erotic Academy Casa Las Piteras", later on renamed "Erotic Academy La Massilia", was founded by Gina Wiesmann and Frieda Radford in 1992 and closed down in 1998 already:
:''"It was meant to be a place for love. And during the five years of existence this was realised... La Massilia was a source of strength for many like-minded persons who, over the years, came to this beautiful spot on Lanzarote. There were parties which tingled with eroticism. People philosophised, danced, laughed, flirted, and everyboy knew that everything was possible any time. There were various love rooms to which one could retreat, and other erotic arrangements which were lavishly used. The team running La Massilia always knew how to seduce their guests.
:''... A truthful contact between men and women was highly cultivated there, from the first contact up to and including the bed. When one took into consideration not to belittle one's counterpart nor to put them on a piedestal, but simply expressed one's perceptions, then indeed (almost) everything was possible, from a quick sexual adventure to a romantic love story..."''<ref>http://atelier3000.de/massilia/massiliahistory.html</ref>

According to other information, the project was envisioned as a ''"thinktank for relations between the sexes"''.<ref> Schmid, Georg: Kirchen, Sekten, Religionen: religiöse Gemeinschaften, weltanschauliche Gruppierungen und Psycho-Organisationen im deutschen Sprachraum. Ein Handbuch. Zurüch 2003. p. 481</ref>

Another project was the so-called research ship "Kairos" with its home port at Lanzarote, under the direction of Martina Gisler. The vessel was meant to research the sea as the "uterus of life" and the communication with whales and dolphins in cooperation with the so-called ZEGG University. Additionally, "erotic turns" were arranged with the vessel.<ref name="nadir_03" /> Gisler directed the project for five years<ref name="spiritherz">http://www.spiritherz.de/martina-gisler.phtml</ref> and today runs a Rolfing office in the towns of Potsdam and Berlin.
According to information provided by Gisler, she is also a ''"teacher on the traditional shamanic path of the Twisted Hairs"''<ref name="spiritherz" />, thus employing one of the code names used by Deer Tribe of which she thus also is a member.

Among the groups active today is "jung im zegg" [Young in ZEGG] which has its own website and particularly addresses ''young persons up to an age of 35'', propagating various ways of non-paid work as a way to get to know ZEGG:
:''"During the summer months, there is much work to do on the premises of the community: building, grooming, harvesting, refurbishing, renewing, extending... What would we do without our industrious supporters? For energetic young persons in particular, working as a summer guest is a beautiful and cost-efficient possibility to get to know the community. Following short morning preliminaries, the motley work teams swarm the premises to spend the next approx. five hours working in the compound, in the garden, or in the kitchen. In the afternoon, there are group meetings, on Saturdays perhaps a dancing party and apart from that much time to explore ZEGG."''<ref name="sommergast">http://www.jung.im.zegg.de/mitarbeit/sommergast.html</ref>
For this unpaid work, interested persons pay ''"€ 56 per week including accomodation and food"''.<ref name="sommergast" />

ZEGG also offers the possibility to do internships, also in the companies situated at their premises, as well as a so-called FÖJ, i.e. a gap year doing volunteer work in ecological projects.<ref name="foej">http://www.jung.im.zegg.de/praktikum-foej/foej.html</ref> FÖJ volunteers at ZEGG will work in the following fields:
:''"You will above all work in our ecological permaculture garden, in the canteen kitchen which prepares biological, regional, and vegetarian meals, in grooming the compound or in the children's house. Besides this you will support the cooking groups and the cleaners together with the persons living at ZEGG. Participation in community events will be counted as working time.
:''ZEGG offers two FÖJ places, so you will work together often and you will live together, probably sharing accomodation with persons doing internships. You will be integrated into already existing groups of seasoners or winter guests with whom you will organise in common living quarters and form a common Forum group."''<ref name="foej" />
Persons doing internships and FÖJ apparently are compelled to participate in the Forum and will thus be introduced to the prevailing ZEGG ideology. This is quite remarkable, as FÖJ is financed and realised by the federal states.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_ecological_year</ref>

A further project is the so-called ZEGG Love Academy with its own web presence which addresses an audience of various age-groups:
:''"Whether you just begun to discover your lovelife, are in the midst of an Eros lived and are inspired by your inquiring spirit of research, or are looking for new stimuli after a long-term relationship - you are welcome to our Love Academy, to take your time for a look at your very personal and intimate issues, cravings, fears, and desires."''<ref>http://www.zegg-liebesakademie.de</ref>

In their statement "Why a Love Academy", the site provides a presentation which employs arguments and a vocabulary reminding of the ideas of Duhm and Lichtenfels, although ZEGG distance themselves from them:
:''"Both love and sexuality belong to the strongest forces of our life. They are more powerful than the mind, eliminate pain, hunger, and weariness, impel us to reproduction and therefore are the basis of our existence. Love and sexuality thus are the most profound driving forces and needs in our life.
:''In their unredeemed form, love and sexuality become a trigger of deep trauma resulting in a sick heart and body, lonely compensation, and violence.
:''Since the majority of persons is not in a position to appease their basic need for fulfilled love and sexuality for a variety of reasons, there is an enormous indigence and an only too often unhappy social state in the world."''<ref>http://www.zegg-liebesakademie.de/warum-eine-liebesakademie-1.phtml</ref>

Due to the separation of ZEGG from Tamera, the superordinate Project Meiga has become obsolete; the Meiga Publishing House, however, still exists and offers publications by Dieter Duhm and Sabine Lichtenfels.

===De-Duhmification Campaign===
Around the end of the 1990ies, a growing out of each other happened between ZEGG and its initiator Dieter Duhm as well as other persons previously influential. At this time, Duhm as well as ZEGG had come under criticism due to the inclusion of theoretical and practical aspects which were first developed within AAO. Duhm had never distanced himself from Muehl, resp. only half-heartedly done so, e.g. in 1993, when he said he did not know whether the prosecution against Muehl was based on facts or not, resp.: ''"I cannot judge him by his personal shortcomings, he has accomplished too much for that."''<ref>http://www.trend.infopartisan.net/trd0299/t370299.html</ref> In a further statement dated 1997 Duhm relativised and basically declared wrong the court sentence against Muehl: ''""... since I knew from my own experience how difficult it is to fully work at the issue of sexuality and community without committing human and historic errors. (This of course does not include the abuse of children. I don't know what happened in Muehl's case.)"''<ref>http://www.agpf.de/ZEGG.htm</ref> After all, Duhm made these comments six years after Muehl's conviction<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_M%C3%BChl#Muehl_vor_Gericht</ref>; his objection he did not know what really happened does not only question the court sentence, but denies the crimes.

In another statement of 2005, Duhm phrases even more explicitely:
:''"And due to my knowledge of his person and his character I deem it impossible he sexually abused children. It is dreadful, it is a dreadful mess what he is being accused of, and what simply gets believed! Rape of young women from the age of 13, sexual abuse of young children from the age of four - and over years! I still cannot believe it when I have to read such defamation."''<ref name="Brünzels" /> 
So eight years after the first comment, Duhm declares the prosecution a mere defamation. By saying "and what simply gets believed", he once more questions the proper implementation of the lawsuit against Muehl. Duhm's use of the phrase of "young women from the age of 13" furthermore trivialises the criminal acts Muehl was held accountable for.

ZEGG distanced themselves only in 2007 and claimed: ''"Dieter Duhm, on whose ideas the foundation of ZEGG was based, initially was enthused by the concepts of the previous AAO commune, but already in 1979 definitely distanced himself from Otto Muehl and AAO and parted with them."''<ref>http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-04.php</ref> At the same time, ZEGG attempted to downplay the connection to Duhm emphasising that Duhm never lived at the ZEGG premises.<ref>see e.g. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Geschichte_und_Kritik_am_ZEGG</ref> However, a place of residence is not essential to establish an influence on persons; after all Karl Marx had no place of residence in Petersburg in October 1917. To which extent the separation of the projects ZEGG and Tamera was an attempt at damage control and at brushing up the image, resp. whether this damage control resulted in or from infighting, cannot be verified from the literature available, but on the other hand also cannot be excluded.

==Focus and Orientation==
Since its beginning, the issue of "free love and sexuality" has always been present and addressed in press releases and promotional texts, and seminars and so-called "academies" covering it have been arranged. It seems that, for promotional purpose, one is quite prepared to employ the image which emerged externally, although on the other hand one tries to evoke the impression that ZEGG is more of a bore than a club of stamp collectors. Apparently, ZEGG detached from occurences in earlier years from which there are reports on female members selling "erotic massages" resp. doing sex work<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskussion:ZEGG/Archiv/2006#Dieser_Artikel_kann_leider_nur_noch_als_Fallstudie_dienen.2C_zum_Thema_Desinformation_in_Wikipedia.</ref>, and when sexual promiscuity e.g. got promoted as a cure against AIDS.

Meanwhile, even critical publications state: ''""Unlike what happened during the mid-90ies, social problems today no longer get portrayed blindly and undifferentiatedly as being caused by oppressed sexuality."''<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf), p. 20</ref> However, ZEGG still today introduce themselves in this way: ''"During the course of the year, numerous seminars and four large festivals take place at ZEGG. A particular focus is placed on the realm of human relationships, so e.g. in communication trainings or seminars on love and sexuality."''<ref name="ecovillages" /> The above quoted comments from the website of ZEGG's Love Academy, too, raise doubts that such a change happened as comprehensively as claimed.

What caused shifts and to which extent it is a real change or just cosmetic processings of an external view cannot be established due to the prevailing lack of transparency. Another unfavourable aspect contributing negatively to the external view was the fact that ZEGG distanced themselves from Muehl and his pedophile crimes only in 2007. It remains problematic, however, that ZEGG does not seem to be prepared to elaborate on its views regarding sexual contacts between elder adults and adolescents.

On the other hand, ZEGG continues to cooperate with Deer Tribe who e.g. employ sexual practices to psychically break, and therefore control, seminar participants, and who sell seminars on alleged indigenous spiritual sexual practices they name Quodoushka.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref> Its head Harley Reagan, of Irish descent and with no known indigenous ancestry, was propagated as an authentic Indian representative by ZEGG during the early 1990ies.<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/cl.antifa.neue_rechte/FlctMaKZw-8</ref>

In other environments - like e.g. promoting seminars on the so-called ZEGG Forum in the USA -, ZEGG members present the ZEGG focus with a different assessment:
:''"Project Meiga began as a research project committed to the spirit of experimentation, but both in content and method lying well outside the purview of institutionalised science. The project was conceived as interdisciplinary life research in biology, physics, medicine and psychology designed to re-integrate the fragmentation in all parts of life that permeates modern society. It was very soon realised that this kind of radical research could only be done rigorously and systematically in the laboratory of communal living and working.
:''Professor Dieter Duhm was the initiator of this social experiment in holistic life research which from the very beginning focused on the basic issues that invariably arise out of humans living together. Thus the nature of love, forms of relationship, the origin of jealousy, conflicts about authority, and concepts of raising children came under the social microscope. Identifying basic human longings and needs, investigating the roots of latent fear and violence, examining what constitutes disease and healing, finding ways to optimise nutrition and raise energy, all became grist for the experimental mill. The project enquired as well into the source of life energy (God), meaning and goals for life, examined creation theories, and attempted to evaluate possible long-term directions for evolution in the history of mankind."''<ref name="nfnc">http://www.nfnc.org/info/document_library/what_is_the_zegg_forum/</ref>

It has to be pointed out that there is no information available regarding Duhm holding a professorship; according to the English Wikipedia, Duhm refused a professorship and already left academia in 1975.<ref name="WP_Duhm">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Duhm#Life_and_work</ref> The claim of an "interdisciplinary life research on biology, physics, medicine and psychology" would be far too ambitious even if Duhm (he studied psychology and received a doctorate in sociology<ref name="WP_Duhm" />) had not refused a professorship. Furthermore, the above presentation is a rather unsystematic mixture of the fields of work chosen with "the nature of love, forms of relationship, the origin of jealousy, conflicts about authority, and concepts of raising children" and "roots of latent fear and violence, examining what constitutes disease and healing, finding ways to optimise nutrition and raise energy".

===Decision making Structures===
In image presentations, ZEGG describe themselves as "grassroots" and ideologically pluralistic.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/zegg-kontrovers/stellungnahme-2013.html</ref> Employing the claim of grassroots democracy, ZEGG seeks to gain acceptance in an undogmatic left environment. Sometimes, decision making is said to happen by consensus.<ref name="WP_Entscheidungen">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Entscheidungen_und_Organisation</ref> In reality, decisions seem to be taken by a so-called "council of 13" on whose structure and appointment no further information was or is available; apparently this is also not transparent for all inhabitants of ZEGG.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf), p. 8</ref> Whether the "Visionsrat" mentioned elsewhere is identical with the council of 13, cannot be established.<ref name="WP_Decisions">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG_%28community%29#Decisions_and_Organisation</ref> The mere existence of such a council runs contrary to a decision making by consensus as well as to a grassroots democracy.

Some self-portrayals present divergent descriptions: 
:''"Financial decisions of a larger volume are made according to a sociocratic model in a management circle."''<ref name="sensaciones" />, resp.: 
:''"An important basis of the ZEGG community is the common work. A large part of the community works in our seminar sector, in the garden, or in the compound. This is where community members meet in every-day life, this is where decisions are being taken which affect the fields of work. The community is organised according to a sociocratic model which functions like a flexible and adjustable operations system for an organisation. It consists of three elements: an organisational structure, a decision-making structure, and a dynamic supervision. The model is based on self-dependent circles which participate in an superordinate circle for the entire organisation with two delegates each."''<ref name="ecovillages" /> 

This model is not compatible with claims of a grassroots structure or decisions by consensus. The presentation also evokes the impression that the economic aspects of living together are not simply integrated, but rather that living together takes a subordinate role to economic aspects and organisational principles. The self-dependency claimed may further be canceled by the mentioned "dynamic supervision" which may superimpose both organisational and decision-making structures.

The statement of a leading ZEGG member regarding consensus decisions probably must be seen as programmatic: ''"What bothers you most regarding ZEGG? - Consensus decisions in which one Veto can stop all change and sabotage all preliminary work."''<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/bewohnerinnen.html</ref>

Another statement contends: ''"Decisions are revisable at any time if they don't prove themselves in practice"''<ref name="WP_Entscheidungen" /> (resp. more vaguely in its English version: ''"All decisions can be revised if they turn out to be unworkable in practice"''<ref name="WP_Decisions" />). Apart from the fact this does not provide any information on who gets to decide whether something passes the elk test, this is a remarkable platitude which should go without saying and does not emphasise a particular progressiveness.

===The Forum===
The so-called Forum is said to be central to ZEGG. It is a community ritual: ''"The group gathers and individual members express emotional incidents which then get 'mirrored' by the others."''<ref name="freitag">http://www.freitag.de/autoren/der-freitag/die-kommune-lebt</ref> According to reports available, participation in the Forum is compulsory for the inhabitants.<ref name="freitag" />
:''"Discussing individual conflicts in public is also a matter of politicising the private, a pet issue of many 68ers. After all, the microcosm here is meant to prove that a society is possible in which conflicts are not solved by violence, but by 'non-violent communication'."''<ref name="freitag" />
The Forum further is a ritual which was already applied within Muehl's Action Analytic Organisation, first with the label of "Action Analysis", and later on renamed to "Self-Expression".<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf) p. 9</ref>

Sources publically available resp. publications about the Forum cannot be established, despite its central significance for ZEGG. Peer reviews and supervision do not occur. It is, however, not to be dismissed that such group processes may put individual persons under considerable pressure and that it is possible to purposefully exploit the group ritual in order to isolate and silence individuals, for instance critics.

A press article quotes an inhabitant of ZEGG on the issue of Forum in this way: 
:''"Barbara Stützel, a blonde woman with a cheerful face, is a trained psychotherapist, but since she has been living at ZEGG, she only works as a singer and actress. "My need for psychology is completely satisfied by the Forum."''<ref name="freitag" /> 

The ZEGG-Forum has its own web presence which explains: ''"Forum has got three important roles: the actor, the facilitator, and the 'mirrors'. The group gathers in a circle. The actor goes into its middle and communicates their feelings and what moves them."''<ref name="hintergrundmaterial">http://www.zegg-forum.org/hintergrundmaterial.phtml</ref>

The process is described as follows: ''"The Forum facilitators assume a central role and need an in-depth training. They must become authentic themselves and learn to stay with the feelings which emerge within themselves or within the circle. Forum facilitators are like midwives supporting the authentic process of the actor. Ideally, there are two facilitators, a woman and a man. Only facilitators interact with the actor in the middle."''<ref name="hintergrundmaterial" /> There are no further details given regarding the training of facilitators.

The aforementioned website introduces Achim Ecker and Ina Meyer-Stoll as the directors of the Forum seminars. According to the information provided, both were already members of the ZEGG predecessor "Bauhütte" and participated in the development of the Forum.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/ueber-uns-1.phtml</ref> Ecker is said to have participated in a training for teachers of non-violent Direct Action during the 1980ies, and as having been involved with non-violent movements in Germany. However, the "Grassroots Revolution" Ecker mentions as one of those does not happen to be such a movement, but is a magazine in the libertarian movement. It may be assumed that Ecker introduced a vocabulary like "grass roots democracy" into ZEGG.

Another description of the Forum in English language was provided by Dolores Richter, a long-term member of ZEGG, propagating the Forum as a technology for existing communities:
:''"Each Forum, the length of which is agreed in advance, usually about 90 minutes, is guided by a facilitator whose task is to direct the presentation to bring out the general character of the personal issue. Thus each and every Forum becomes a learning process for all present. The facilitator alone may intervene in the presenter’s process, sometimes to confuse the presenter, sometimes to interrupt or to divert him if he or she gets stuck in repetitive thought trains. It doesn't make sense to allow somebody to speak forever if the personal drama becomes too drawn out and boring. Transparency is served when the person in the middle finds out about this boredom arising in his listeners. The facilitator has sensed that people were passively listening and silently thinking how boring is the story. Can the presenter be thankful for the intervention that brought to light the effect his words were having on his audience?
:''"The more knowledge one has about one's own habitual patterns of thinking and behaving the faster one can perceive them in others and intervene in a supportive way. The facilitator who doesn’t feel love and acceptance for the actor probably should resist intervening. Thus we see that the qualities of a facilitator include a high awareness of ones own emotional character, motives, thought forms and feelings. The skilful facilitator possesses a broad human knowledge, a high social consciousness and a deep sense of responsibility. At the same time the facilitator remains merely the member of the group who has taken on the temporary role of directing the Forum process. You could accurately characterise the facilitator as a channel focalising the energies, issues and processes. To some extent that does mean directing and shaping the process. Nevertheless, the facilitator has no answers, proffers no solutions, but rather remains in the role of a "focaliser", asking questions to bring out and broaden the issue, mirroring the actor in a way that opens up the issue, reveals connections, and connects with the vitality.
:''"Before beginning of Forum it is important that everyone in the circle delegate to the facilitator total trust to direct the process. So the circle, which contains the potential actors for the session, gives the facilitator the power to invite the presenter to sing a song, to stand on one’s head, to be a chicken...be whatever the facilitator intuits would be helpful for breaking a habitual pattern. And the facilitator can only fulfil this role faithfully when the full trust of the entire circle is given. And that trust must extend to the actor who sets aside questions about the direction of the facilitating. For all this conferred power, the facilitator is not above the group; he or she remains a member of the community and can be questioned and or criticised after the Forum. Only when the focaliser enjoys the full trust of the group can the high energy emerge which makes it possible to break through old habits in a co-operative, creative and playful flow."''<ref name="nfnc" />

The description reveals the so-called "facilitator" is given a central role as well as a considerable power which includes giving directions. The facilitator is expected to possess "a high awareness of ones own emotional character, motives, thought forms and feelings"; the text does, however, not mention how to establish these qualities or how to gain them. In case a facilitator does not feel "love and acceptance" for the actor, the text says, he "probably should resist intervening", so apparently the facilitator is not compelled to abstain from intervening in such cases. At the same time the facilitator is a simple member of the group ''"who has taken on the temporary role of directing the Forum process"'' and of the community, on the other hand he is to focalise ''"energies, issues and processes"''. This dual role may even promote the abuse of possibilities to the disadvantage of an actor and does not neutralise power distinctions, but may be exploited to conceal them.

Additionally, participants in the Forum are compelled to an advance confidence in the facilitator; they apparently are not in a position to reject a facilitator who, for his part, may abstain from intervention and instructions but is not compelled to. The reason given for this, the facilitator had to be trusted so that he may fulfil his role properly, leaves substantial space for assignments of guilt to the participants. The further note that facilitators may be questioned and criticised following the Forum as a member of the community is not valid, since for one the demanded confidence in a facilitator may prevent this, and likewise may the facilitator's privileged position prevent criticism.

Comparing the difference in German and English presentations, the German web presence does not address the facilitator's position of power, his authority to give instructions, and his dual role. This dichotomy of presentations does not facilitate transparency, but confirms the impression that ZEGG is only prepared to disclose what is inevitable and prefers to obscure facts.

===The Range of Seminars===
ZEGG's web presence divides seminars organised by ZEGG and those organised by external vendors.

====ZEGG Seminars====
For the second half of 2014, 52 events are listed as organised by ZEGG.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/veranstaltungen/zegg-veranstaltungen.html</ref> Eleven of these fall upon the category of support work which is comprised of three sub-categories: ZEGG support, ZEGG community, and ZEGG work campaigns. Apart from doing general 'support work as a summer guest', there is the category of work campaigns which call for assistance painting windows, with harvesting, with taking down the large tent, and with an 'Autumn Action'. Between April 25 and August 31, 2014, it is possible to do "seasonal work". There are two further events in the category of "ZEGG Congress Festival" and "ZEGG Info"; a further ZEGG Experience Week has not been allotted to any category.

Six events are listed in the category of ZEGG Forum. The Love Academy offers four seminars, with seven more ZEGG seminars in the fields of sexuality/love, so that this offers as many events as the category of doing supportive work. Another three musical events are added, among them a "Come Together Song-Festival" organised regularly, directed by long-term ZEGG member Hagara Feinbier. Five of the seminars announced are of a more general Newage character (e.g. systemic constellations).

A further regular event done by ZEGG is the so-called Whitsun Festival which in 2014 had the title "Experiment Philosombria":
:''"With the title "Experiment Philosombria" (philosombria: love of shadows), 300 persons turn to those parts of our personalities we usually push aside, conceal, don't want to accept, which have withdrawn into the "shadow". During the Festival, we intend to elicit them, pay attention to them, dance, laugh with them and meet them in a compassionate way ... and set free the life energies hiding within this. This will all happen in an always mindful, but also determined, concentrated way. The shadow shows us the way since it keeps the secret of change and our most valuable treasures.
:''The sentence "We can only change what we accept" (C.G. Jung) is one of the most central orientations.
:''Central aspects of the Festival will be creative lectures with drama and music as well as in-process research groups and rooms of experience. The days will be completed with manyfold highlights like innovative parties, rituals, performances, concerts, and spontaneous actions.
:''The fee for the Festival amounts to € 290, € 360, or € 430 according to financial options. This includes accomodation in tents or dorms and organic-vegetarian food. Smaller rooms available at surcharge. Rebates for work input possible."''<ref>http://www.presseschleuder.com/tag/pfingstfestival/</ref>

====Seminars of External Vendors====
During the second half of 2014, 27 seminars are organised by external vendors.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/veranstaltungen/seminare-externer-anbieter.html</ref> These are largely 'Tantra Matrix' and 'Secret of Tantra' with twelve seminars, and vendors from the Deer Tribe (Skwanesie Lodge and 'Lust und Wissen' [Desire and Knowledge]; the operators of Skwanesie Lodge live at the ZEGG premises) organise six more seminars. These vendors add a further 17 seminars in the realm of sexuality/love to the range of seminars offered by ZEGG so that this field is made up of 28 seminars altogether.

===Cooperation in Movements and Organisations===
By cooperating with various confederations and organisations, ZEGG aims at gaining social acceptance. Among these activities is a membership in the Global Ecovillages Network GEN which organises so-called ecologial villages. From approximately 2003 on, the Bureau of GEN-Europe had its office in the ZEGG premises.<ref>Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003, p. 128 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref> Apart from ZEGG, other members are Tamera, Damanhur, Findhorn, the Tribe of Likatians. The present (2014) Council of GEN-Europe has eight members, among them one each from the projects Damanhur, ZEGG, La Base/Spain (they do sweatlodges<ref>http://sites.ecovillage.org/de/node/3858</ref>), Tamera, and the Hungarian Krisna-völgy [Krishna Valley] which also is a member of ISKCON.

Over the years, ZEGG further attempted to gain a foothold in a more undogmatic left environment, as well as a non-violent scene and the peace movement<ref>see e.g. http://sites.ecovillage.org/de/node/3858</ref>, and recently also in the anti-globalisation movement. Attac lists ZEGG as a member, besides many organisations from Trade Unions, churches, political parties, ecological groups and organisations.<ref>http://www.attac-netzwerk.de/das-netzwerk/mitgliedsorganisationen/?no_cache=1&tx_macinabanners_pi1[banneruid]=67</ref>

==Cooperation with other Vendors on the Newage Market==
ZEGG has been cooperating with other vendors on the Newage market for years. Some of them also organise seminars at the ZEGG premises in Belzig, like e.g. the [[Deer Tribe]]. As Deer Tribe has strictly hierarchical structures, intends to create an elite, prepares for a 'race war' against migrants from Meso- and South America, and called for a civil war in case of Al Gore winning the presidential elections, for which case DT planned to join forces with extremist right US militias<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref>, there should be a sharp contrast to the grassroots democracy and to consensus decisions claimed by ZEGG; however, there is a common ground regarding the mutual approach to the realm of sexuality. It may perhaps be seen as an indicator of an emphasis of issues when such a cooperation lasts for years, with Deer Tribe apparently also in a position to organise their courses in self-defence and seminars within the framework of their hierarchical Gateway Process at the ZEGG premises.

Several vendors of Deer Tribe e.g. offered seminars in Bad Belzig in 2013 and 2014. These are e.g. Swiss residents Sabina Tschudi and Johannes Schröder who organised a seminar on "Body De-Armoring" in August 2013, the course taking a fortnight at a fee of € 1,950 plus cost for accomodation and food payable to ZEGG.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter">http://www.zegg.de/de/seminarzentrum/seminare-externer-anbieter.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> Tschudi and Schröder operate a "Stardreamer Lodge" of Deer Tribe in Switzerland.
Two further seminars titled "Skwanesie Lodge Annual Cycle" were organised by two members of Deer Tribe living at the ZEGG premises in Belzig.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />
A seminar titled "Raising children from a shamanic point of view" was organised by Rose Fink, an Austrian citizen who spent long years at the Deer Tribe headquarters in Arizona. Information provided on the seminar points out that Fink is a member of the cult since 1983.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />
Fink and "Batty" Gold also did seminars on "Quodoushka 1" and "Quodoushka 3" which is said to enable a "shamanic approach to sexuality". Gold, an Austrian citizen, too, is a long-term member of the cult and also lived in its headquarters for years.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />

ZEGG further cooperates with plastic shaman [[Francis Talbot]] who poses as a Wampanoag Indian and medicine person and goes by the name of "Manitonquat" (Medicine Story). Zegg as well as Tamera have been cooperating with Talbot since 1992.<ref>http://www.communiversitymagazine.org/web%20pages/Circle%20Way%20Village.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> In the section "Voices on ZEGG" at the ZEGG website, they publish a comment from Talbot whom they describe as a "spiritual teacher": ''"Thank you for having the courage to love, to live your dream and reach for rainbows.“''<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/stimmen-zum-zegg.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> ZEGG, and Tamera, came to aid in 2006 when Talbot, according to his claims, had run into problems with payments on the mortgage for his premises in the USA, and were apparently able to collect the amount necessary within short notice.<ref>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/message/6261 accessed 18.07.2013</ref>

==Criticism==
From various walks of life, ZEGG has been criticised for sexism against women, the promotion of a sexist perception of women, biologism, homophobia resp. heteronormativity, a monocausal understanding of crises, a totalising theory construction, dangerous models of self-healing in case of disease, youthism, and creating a feeling of doom. ZEGG has also been viewed as a sequel of Otto Muehl's sexist psycho-cult "Action Analytic Organisation" (AAO). Further criticism was raised on an intransparent financial conduct of ZEGG GmbH. According to information provided by the Protestant Church of Germany, adolescents from ZEGG are "introduced" to sexuality by ''knowing adults'' in Portugal, in order to prevent them from ''entering a commitment to personal love attachments too fast''.<ref>http://www.ekd.de/ezw/42787_40615.php</ref>

ZEGG's reaction was a "de-Duhmification campaign". Membership with "attac" presumably also aimed at increasing acceptance. Criticisms of an intransparent financial conduct were met with a public counterstatement.

Further criticism is raised regarding pseudo-scientific events like "ZEGG university" or "ZEGG summer university".

{{OtherLang|ge=ZEGG}}

==Weblinks==
* http://www.agpf.de/ZEGG.htm
* http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html
* http://www.zegg.de/
* http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG
* http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/archiv/?dig=2004/07/24/a0258
* http://www.relinfo.ch/zegg/
*[http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf)]

==References==
<references/>

ZEGG

2015-12-24T13:10:01Z

Halbmond: /* Cooperation with other Vendors on the Newage Market */

'''ZEGG''' is the abbreviation for "Centre for Experimental Cultural Design", a community of mostly Newage oriented persons in the town of Bad Belzig near Berlin founded in 1991. On its website, ZEGG goes by the name of "ZEGG - Centre for Research and Education GmbH".<ref>ZEGG - Forschungs- und Bildungszentrum GmbH, Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 89, 14806 Bad Belzig</ref> The number of persons living there is said to be about 100.

The settlement of ZEGG GmbH of today approx. 37,000 acres is an aggregation of buildings, tents, and camp grounds situated in a forest. The premises also houses several businesses and conference facilities. In the centre of the premises is a large, round space with a fountain which is also being used as a "place of power", for meditations, and as a "cosmic antenna". There is an Ashram group as well as a group doing tree meditation, sweatlodges and a bookshop offering Newage literature. ZEGG is also used as a conference centre for several commercial vendors of seminars on the psycho market.

During the reign of National Socialism, the premises were used as a holiday and sports camp. In German Democratic Republic, they were used by paramilitary "Society for Sports and Technics" (GST). In 1991, the premises were sold at a price of DM 2.1 million. The aim was to build an "international conference and research centre" which was to supply ''models for a socially and ecologically sustainable life''. In the beginning, critics and concerned persons insinuated inhabitants were practicing "free love" in the way of promiscuous sexual relations in their community. The leadership of initiator Dieter Duhm was described as patriarchal.

Publications are to be found in the magazines "ZEGG" and "ZEGG newsletter".

Typical for ZEGG is the "Forum", a practice reminding of psychodrama based on the so-called self-expressions as practiced within Action Analytical Organisation (AAO). In its course, a participant portrays his emotions, wishes, and problems in the centre of an audience in order to present them to the collective.

==Dieter Duhm==
ZEGG was founded by Dieter Duhm, a psychologist and author born in 1942, who was influenced by Otto Muehl's "Action Analytical Organisation" (AAO). One of the more popular proponents is actor Barbara Rütting. Meanwhile, Duhm lives in Portugal, in a "planetary healing biotope" by the name of Tamera also founded by him. Duhm has also initiated a "Peace School Mirja" and a "Political Ashram" in Tamera as training centres for future "peace workers".
Duhm also invented a "political theory" in which he uses terms like holography, chaos research, system theory, and morphogenetic field theory (coined by Rupert Sheldrake) which is expected to cause peace worldwide.

==ZEGG GmbH==
ZEGG GmbH (Ltd.) is the owner of the premises and organiser of the profitable conference centre. All adult and permanent inhabitants of ZEGG are said to be compelled to buy a subparticipation, so that in 2003, ZEGG GmbH had seven main shareholders and 112 persons holding subparticipations.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. p. 119 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf auccessed </ref> A subparticipation was sold at Euro 2,250 in 2003.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. p. 125 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref>

ZEGG GmbH is financed by contributions, monthly rent payments by inhabitants which in 2004 amounted to € 340<ref>http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/?dig=2004/07/24/a0258</ref> (more recent figures are not available); according to figures dating from 2003, monthly payments amounted to a total of Euro 450. This is specified with an amount of Euro 320 due for rent, a board fee of Euro 125, and a voluntary contribution for the children of the community between Euro 5 and Euro 50.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. Appendix 2, Interview 2. http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref> According to the information provided, the actual cost for inhabitants varied between Euro 450 and Euro 500. There is also a promotional society by the name of ZEGG-Club to which all members of the community belong.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. Appendix 2, Interview 4. http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref>

A further source of income for ZEGG GmbH are rents paid by resident enterprises. Both resident enterprises and inhabitant members of the community are said to be financially independent.<ref name="sensaciones">http://www.sensaciones.de/de/link/zegg-zentrum-fuer-experimentelle-gesellschafts-gestaltung</ref> External communication emphasises that ZEGG is financially independent and self-supporting.<ref name="ecovillages">http://www.ecovillages.eu/content/view/462/28/</ref>

ZEGG organises four festivals annually which see several hundred visitors.
Nonpaid work input by inhabitants and visitors may be seen as another source of income.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/seminarzentrum/terminkalender/venueevents/33-zegg-mitarbeit.html</ref>

==Origins and Development==
Giving a detailed account of the project is a challenging task, since independent sources are rare and some publications, e.g. Wikipedia, happen to be of a rather advertising character due to ZEGG inhabitants and proponents contributing. Likewise the renaming of projects, the re-use of names previously used for different projects, the number of projects founded etc. do not favour transparency. All in all, ZEGG's external communication is not oriented towards transparency:
:''"ZEGG is anxious to address as broad an audience as possible. Its public presentation [...] remains rather short and superficial. Material and information suitable to grant insights into ZEGG structures, its ideology, or contents of Forum training are kept from the public."''<ref name="Brünzels">http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf)</ref>

ZEGG was founded in 1991 by Dieter Duhm, Sabine Lichtenfels, and other persons. Duhm in particular had been influenced by Otto Muehl's Action Analytical Organisation AAO whose principles he sought to apply within his own organisation by the name of Bauhütte [i.e. site office] beginning in 1978.<ref name="sensaciones" /> Other ZEGG publications name Duhm and Lichtenfels as the founders of a Project Meiga from which ZEGG emerged.<ref name="ausfuehrlich-02">http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-02.php</ref> Meiga is described as a ''"network of individuals and projects"; its ''"members were participants of Bauhütte (1983-1986), a community experiment under the direction of Dieter Duhm and later of individuals from ZEGG and Tamera"''<ref>http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-03.php</ref>, or in a previous chapter, not quite in congruence: ''"Many of the community members belonging to the supportive group of ZEGG in 1991 had been members of »Bauhütte« (1983-1986), a »pioneer community« under the direction of Dieter Duhm"''.<ref name="ausfuehrlich-02" />

Another way of description claims Project Meiga was founded ''"as an alternative to Friedrichshof"'' [i.e. to Muehl's AAO9] and "''from its beginnings had contrarian thoughts: individual autonomy, mental pluralism, and mental orientation by experience"''.<ref name="coforum">http://coforum.de/?3193</ref> On the other hand, there are quotes by Duhm, particularly from the early years, like the following one dated 1991:
:''"These charismatic communities - even Poona and Friedrichshof - in a fatal sense of the word were also the 'democratic' ones, since demos, the people, wanted the Führer; it wanted to be directed, as it was only able to function and be able to have a community this way. This structure is emotionally valid until today, even if slogans claim differently. All well-meant sentences of grassroots democracy and individual autonomy fail at the psychic realities of the participants."'''<ref name="coforum" />

ZEGG at least keeps employing the argument of alleged grassroots structures and the character of an experiment of living and working together as well as an orientation towards ecology and sustainability for attempts to gain access to a broad undogmatic left environment, to alternative ecological and to Newage circles, but also to the peace movement.

===Excursus: Control of External Perception by ZEGG===
Through according processing and presentation of information, ZEGG tried and still tries to counter the criticism emerging since the mid-1980ies and either deny valid points of criticism or whitewash it with some verbosity. Apparently part of the respective tactics include divergences in information to a lesser or greater extent in different media; in some cases, this even comes close to fact resistance, so e.g. when the project founder Dieter Duhm gets characterised as "one of the leading intellectuals of the 68 movement".<ref name="WP_Geschichte">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Geschichte_und_Kritik_am_ZEGG</ref>

Another aspect of diverging information in different media is e.g. providing differing data regarding founding dates, so that, as one example, the German Wikipedia at one point in time claimed ZEGG predecessor "Bauhütte" was founded in 1978<ref name="WP117820090">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=117820090&oldid=117521770</ref> and English Wikipedia still carries this information<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG_%28community%29#History_of_the_Ideas</ref>, while a ZEGG declaration states Bauhütte was founded in 1983. The German article lost some information on the so-called ZEGG Forum in 2012 while the paragraph describing decision structures was trimmed and rendered more vague in the process.<ref name="WP109072580">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=109072580&oldid=105590460</ref> Critical literature listed sometimes got deleted<ref name="WP137938738">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=137938738&oldid=137394241</ref>, as well as the term "esoteric".<ref name="WP120772997">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=120772997&oldid=120119560</ref> In April 2013, another article critical of ZEGG was deleted and replaced by a favourable one written for a local newspaper by to inhabitants of ZEGG.<ref name="WP117820090" />

In 2011 already, paragraphs providing information on the occupations of inhabitants and ZEGG finances were deleted:
:''"A substantial part of the community works in the fields of accomodation and catering for guests, organising of seminars, agriculture and taking care of the premises. The fields of activity are self-governed, decisions will be taken by the workers. All inhabitants also do volunteer work."''<ref name="WP86952640">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=86952640&oldid=86952148</ref>
:''"One requirement when purchasing the premises was that an amount equalling the sum spent [DM 2.1 million] had to be invested into the premises. This was realised by financial contributions to ZEGG GmbH [Ltd.] from supporters and bank loans."''<ref name="WP86952640" />

From November 2010 resp. March 2011, two persons connected to ZEGG contribute to both the German and English Wikipedia articles who also effected the changes mentioned above; the conflict of interest seems to go unnoticed. The changes and deletions effected by these persons contribute to casting a light as positive as possible unto ZEGG while problems addressed will be either deleted discretely or played down, and merits get highlighted.

===Further Associations and Organisations===
A multitude of further associations and organisations have been founded out of ZEGG resp. Project Meiga, with some of them continuing until today while others have ceased to exist.

Among those groups inactive today is e.g. Sexpeace which may have been readjusted during its existence, since it is sometimes described as a group of artists while other reports speak of a "project to save free love".<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/de.org.ccc/Uu13kb3qzOk</ref> Similarly, the drama group "The Unredeemed" and the youth projects "Undersky" and "Jetzt e.V. - Youth developing the Future" have become inactive.

This is also true of an organisation ZEGG describes as a humanitarian aid project by the name of "Aktion Perestroika e.V." which, however, is still existant in a list of associations; although the address supplies a different street number which may be due to a simple typing error, the phone number listed is an extension of the ZEGG telephone number.<ref>http://www.vereinsverzeichnis.eu/verein,13617,.html</ref> The association Aktion Perestroika e.V. was founded in 1990 with the claim of providing humanitarian aid and donating respective goods to Russia; one founding member was Sten Linnander who according to information provided by himself previously had been a member of "Bauhütte" from 1983 on; he became the president of Aktion Perestroika. Prior to joining Bauhütte, Linnander is said to have been a member of Muehl's AAO at Friedrichshof.<ref name="nadir_all">https://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/zegg_all.html#xtocid323348</ref> Between 1994 and 2002, Linnander lived in Arizona where he says to have studied indigenous shamanism.<ref>http://p2pfoundation.net/Sten_Linnander</ref> Phoenix/Arizona is the home of the headquarters of [[Deer Tribe]], with whom ZEGG cooperates in Bad Belzig; several vendors from Deer Tribe offer seminars at their premises.

Another inactive project is "Haven Arctica" which was also directed by Sten Linnander; it used the motto "Melt your Hearts and not the Arctic" and meant to combine ''"ecological, political, and spiritual research matters for healing and protecting the Arctic with ideas for human healing"'', for which one intended to call and whistle for polar lights in the north of Sweden.<ref name="nadir_all" />

Nature and Wilderness School Achillea still seems to be active. One of its co-founders also runs Ökotec GmbH<ref>http://www.lichtpraxis.eu/ern%C3%A4hrung/wildkr%C3%A4uter/wildkr%C3%A4uter-2/</ref> which is said to belong to the environment of ZEGG. According to information given by ZEGG, Ökotec GmbH is financially and organisationally independent; it uses rooms in the ZEGG premises at Bad Belzig.<ref name="nadir_03">https://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/zegg_03.html</ref>

The so-called "Erotic Academy Casa Las Piteras", later on renamed "Erotic Academy La Massilia", was founded by Gina Wiesmann and Frieda Radford in 1992 and closed down in 1998 already:
:''"It was meant to be a place for love. And during the five years of existence this was realised... La Massilia was a source of strength for many like-minded persons who, over the years, came to this beautiful spot on Lanzarote. There were parties which tingled with eroticism. People philosophised, danced, laughed, flirted, and everyboy knew that everything was possible any time. There were various love rooms to which one could retreat, and other erotic arrangements which were lavishly used. The team running La Massilia always knew how to seduce their guests.
:''... A truthful contact between men and women was highly cultivated there, from the first contact up to and including the bed. When one took into consideration not to belittle one's counterpart nor to put them on a piedestal, but simply expressed one's perceptions, then indeed (almost) everything was possible, from a quick sexual adventure to a romantic love story..."''<ref>http://atelier3000.de/massilia/massiliahistory.html</ref>

According to other information, the project was envisioned as a ''"thinktank for relations between the sexes"''.<ref> Schmid, Georg: Kirchen, Sekten, Religionen: religiöse Gemeinschaften, weltanschauliche Gruppierungen und Psycho-Organisationen im deutschen Sprachraum. Ein Handbuch. Zurüch 2003. p. 481</ref>

Another project was the so-called research ship "Kairos" with its home port at Lanzarote, under the direction of Martina Gisler. The vessel was meant to research the sea as the "uterus of life" and the communication with whales and dolphins in cooperation with the so-called ZEGG University. Additionally, "erotic turns" were arranged with the vessel.<ref name="nadir_03" /> Gisler directed the project for five years<ref name="spiritherz">http://www.spiritherz.de/martina-gisler.phtml</ref> and today runs a Rolfing office in the towns of Potsdam and Berlin.
According to information provided by Gisler, she is also a ''"teacher on the traditional shamanic path of the Twisted Hairs"''<ref name="spiritherz" />, thus employing one of the code names used by Deer Tribe of which she thus also is a member.

Among the groups active today is "jung im zegg" [Young in ZEGG] which has its own website and particularly addresses ''young persons up to an age of 35'', propagating various ways of non-paid work as a way to get to know ZEGG:
:''"During the summer months, there is much work to do on the premises of the community: building, grooming, harvesting, refurbishing, renewing, extending... What would we do without our industrious supporters? For energetic young persons in particular, working as a summer guest is a beautiful and cost-efficient possibility to get to know the community. Following short morning preliminaries, the motley work teams swarm the premises to spend the next approx. five hours working in the compound, in the garden, or in the kitchen. In the afternoon, there are group meetings, on Saturdays perhaps a dancing party and apart from that much time to explore ZEGG."''<ref name="sommergast">http://www.jung.im.zegg.de/mitarbeit/sommergast.html</ref>
For this unpaid work, interested persons pay ''"€ 56 per week including accomodation and food"''.<ref name="sommergast" />

ZEGG also offers the possibility to do internships, also in the companies situated at their premises, as well as a so-called FÖJ, i.e. a gap year doing volunteer work in ecological projects.<ref name="foej">http://www.jung.im.zegg.de/praktikum-foej/foej.html</ref> FÖJ volunteers at ZEGG will work in the following fields:
:''"You will above all work in our ecological permaculture garden, in the canteen kitchen which prepares biological, regional, and vegetarian meals, in grooming the compound or in the children's house. Besides this you will support the cooking groups and the cleaners together with the persons living at ZEGG. Participation in community events will be counted as working time.
:''ZEGG offers two FÖJ places, so you will work together often and you will live together, probably sharing accomodation with persons doing internships. You will be integrated into already existing groups of seasoners or winter guests with whom you will organise in common living quarters and form a common Forum group."''<ref name="foej" />
Persons doing internships and FÖJ apparently are compelled to participate in the Forum and will thus be introduced to the prevailing ZEGG ideology. This is quite remarkable, as FÖJ is financed and realised by the federal states.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_ecological_year</ref>

A further project is the so-called ZEGG Love Academy with its own web presence which addresses an audience of various age-groups:
:''"Whether you just begun to discover your lovelife, are in the midst of an Eros lived and are inspired by your inquiring spirit of research, or are looking for new stimuli after a long-term relationship - you are welcome to our Love Academy, to take your time for a look at your very personal and intimate issues, cravings, fears, and desires."''<ref>http://www.zegg-liebesakademie.de</ref>

In their statement "Why a Love Academy", the site provides a presentation which employs arguments and a vocabulary reminding of the ideas of Duhm and Lichtenfels, although ZEGG distance themselves from them:
:''"Both love and sexuality belong to the strongest forces of our life. They are more powerful than the mind, eliminate pain, hunger, and weariness, impel us to reproduction and therefore are the basis of our existence. Love and sexuality thus are the most profound driving forces and needs in our life.
:''In their unredeemed form, love and sexuality become a trigger of deep trauma resulting in a sick heart and body, lonely compensation, and violence.
:''Since the majority of persons is not in a position to appease their basic need for fulfilled love and sexuality for a variety of reasons, there is an enormous indigence and an only too often unhappy social state in the world."''<ref>http://www.zegg-liebesakademie.de/warum-eine-liebesakademie-1.phtml</ref>

Due to the separation of ZEGG from Tamera, the superordinate Project Meiga has become obsolete; the Meiga Publishing House, however, still exists and offers publications by Dieter Duhm and Sabine Lichtenfels.

===De-Duhmification Campaign===
Around the end of the 1990ies, a growing out of each other happened between ZEGG and its initiator Dieter Duhm as well as other persons previously influential. At this time, Duhm as well as ZEGG had come under criticism due to the inclusion of theoretical and practical aspects which were first developed within AAO. Duhm had never distanced himself from Muehl, resp. only half-heartedly done so, e.g. in 1993, when he said he did not know whether the prosecution against Muehl was based on facts or not, resp.: ''"I cannot judge him by his personal shortcomings, he has accomplished too much for that."''<ref>http://www.trend.infopartisan.net/trd0299/t370299.html</ref> In a further statement dated 1997 Duhm relativised and basically declared wrong the court sentence against Muehl: ''""... since I knew from my own experience how difficult it is to fully work at the issue of sexuality and community without committing human and historic errors. (This of course does not include the abuse of children. I don't know what happened in Muehl's case.)"''<ref>http://www.agpf.de/ZEGG.htm</ref> After all, Duhm made these comments six years after Muehl's conviction<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_M%C3%BChl#Muehl_vor_Gericht</ref>; his objection he did not know what really happened does not only question the court sentence, but denies the crimes.

In another statement of 2005, Duhm phrases even more explicitely:
:''"And due to my knowledge of his person and his character I deem it impossible he sexually abused children. It is dreadful, it is a dreadful mess what he is being accused of, and what simply gets believed! Rape of young women from the age of 13, sexual abuse of young children from the age of four - and over years! I still cannot believe it when I have to read such defamation."''<ref name="Brünzels" /> 
So eight years after the first comment, Duhm declares the prosecution a mere defamation. By saying "and what simply gets believed", he once more questions the proper implementation of the lawsuit against Muehl. Duhm's use of the phrase of "young women from the age of 13" furthermore trivialises the criminal acts Muehl was held accountable for.

ZEGG distanced themselves only in 2007 and claimed: ''"Dieter Duhm, on whose ideas the foundation of ZEGG was based, initially was enthused by the concepts of the previous AAO commune, but already in 1979 definitely distanced himself from Otto Muehl and AAO and parted with them."''<ref>http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-04.php</ref> At the same time, ZEGG attempted to downplay the connection to Duhm emphasising that Duhm never lived at the ZEGG premises.<ref>see e.g. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Geschichte_und_Kritik_am_ZEGG</ref> However, a place of residence is not essential to establish an influence on persons; after all Karl Marx had no place of residence in Petersburg in October 1917. To which extent the separation of the projects ZEGG and Tamera was an attempt at damage control and at brushing up the image, resp. whether this damage control resulted in or from infighting, cannot be verified from the literature available, but on the other hand also cannot be excluded.

==Focus and Orientation==
Since its beginning, the issue of "free love and sexuality" has always been present and addressed in press releases and promotional texts, and seminars and so-called "academies" covering it have been arranged. It seems that, for promotional purpose, one is quite prepared to employ the image which emerged externally, although on the other hand one tries to evoke the impression that ZEGG is more of a bore than a club of stamp collectors. Apparently, ZEGG detached from occurences in earlier years from which there are reports on female members selling "erotic massages" resp. doing sex work<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskussion:ZEGG/Archiv/2006#Dieser_Artikel_kann_leider_nur_noch_als_Fallstudie_dienen.2C_zum_Thema_Desinformation_in_Wikipedia.</ref>, and when sexual promiscuity e.g. got promoted as a cure against AIDS.

Meanwhile, even critical publications state: ''""Unlike what happened during the mid-90ies, social problems today no longer get portrayed blindly and undifferentiatedly as being caused by oppressed sexuality."''<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf), p. 20</ref> However, ZEGG still today introduce themselves in this way: ''"During the course of the year, numerous seminars and four large festivals take place at ZEGG. A particular focus is placed on the realm of human relationships, so e.g. in communication trainings or seminars on love and sexuality."''<ref name="ecovillages" /> The above quoted comments from the website of ZEGG's Love Academy, too, raise doubts that such a change happened as comprehensively as claimed.

What caused shifts and to which extent it is a real change or just cosmetic processings of an external view cannot be established due to the prevailing lack of transparency. Another unfavourable aspect contributing negatively to the external view was the fact that ZEGG distanced themselves from Muehl and his pedophile crimes only in 2007. It remains problematic, however, that ZEGG does not seem to be prepared to elaborate on its views regarding sexual contacts between elder adults and adolescents.

On the other hand, ZEGG continues to cooperate with Deer Tribe who e.g. employ sexual practices to psychically break, and therefore control, seminar participants, and who sell seminars on alleged indigenous spiritual sexual practices they name Quodoushka.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref> Its head Harley Reagan, of Irish descent and with no known indigenous ancestry, was propagated as an authentic Indian representative by ZEGG during the early 1990ies.<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/cl.antifa.neue_rechte/FlctMaKZw-8</ref>

In other environments - like e.g. promoting seminars on the so-called ZEGG Forum in the USA -, ZEGG members present the ZEGG focus with a different assessment:
:''"Project Meiga began as a research project committed to the spirit of experimentation, but both in content and method lying well outside the purview of institutionalised science. The project was conceived as interdisciplinary life research in biology, physics, medicine and psychology designed to re-integrate the fragmentation in all parts of life that permeates modern society. It was very soon realised that this kind of radical research could only be done rigorously and systematically in the laboratory of communal living and working.
:''Professor Dieter Duhm was the initiator of this social experiment in holistic life research which from the very beginning focused on the basic issues that invariably arise out of humans living together. Thus the nature of love, forms of relationship, the origin of jealousy, conflicts about authority, and concepts of raising children came under the social microscope. Identifying basic human longings and needs, investigating the roots of latent fear and violence, examining what constitutes disease and healing, finding ways to optimise nutrition and raise energy, all became grist for the experimental mill. The project enquired as well into the source of life energy (God), meaning and goals for life, examined creation theories, and attempted to evaluate possible long-term directions for evolution in the history of mankind."''<ref name="nfnc">http://www.nfnc.org/info/document_library/what_is_the_zegg_forum/</ref>

It has to be pointed out that there is no information available regarding Duhm holding a professorship; according to the English Wikipedia, Duhm refused a professorship and already left academia in 1975.<ref name="WP_Duhm">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Duhm#Life_and_work</ref> The claim of an "interdisciplinary life research on biology, physics, medicine and psychology" would be far too ambitious even if Duhm (he studied psychology and received a doctorate in sociology<ref name="WP_Duhm" />) had not refused a professorship. Furthermore, the above presentation is a rather unsystematic mixture of the fields of work chosen with "the nature of love, forms of relationship, the origin of jealousy, conflicts about authority, and concepts of raising children" and "roots of latent fear and violence, examining what constitutes disease and healing, finding ways to optimise nutrition and raise energy".

===Decision making Structures===
In image presentations, ZEGG describe themselves as "grassroots" and ideologically pluralistic.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/zegg-kontrovers/stellungnahme-2013.html</ref> Employing the claim of grassroots democracy, ZEGG seeks to gain acceptance in an undogmatic left environment. Sometimes, decision making is said to happen by consensus.<ref name="WP_Entscheidungen">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Entscheidungen_und_Organisation</ref> In reality, decisions seem to be taken by a so-called "council of 13" on whose structure and appointment no further information was or is available; apparently this is also not transparent for all inhabitants of ZEGG.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf), p. 8</ref> Whether the "Visionsrat" mentioned elsewhere is identical with the council of 13, cannot be established.<ref name="WP_Decisions">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG_%28community%29#Decisions_and_Organisation</ref> The mere existence of such a council runs contrary to a decision making by consensus as well as to a grassroots democracy.

Some self-portrayals present divergent descriptions: 
:''"Financial decisions of a larger volume are made according to a sociocratic model in a management circle."''<ref name="sensaciones" />, resp.: 
:''"An important basis of the ZEGG community is the common work. A large part of the community works in our seminar sector, in the garden, or in the compound. This is where community members meet in every-day life, this is where decisions are being taken which affect the fields of work. The community is organised according to a sociocratic model which functions like a flexible and adjustable operations system for an organisation. It consists of three elements: an organisational structure, a decision-making structure, and a dynamic supervision. The model is based on self-dependent circles which participate in an superordinate circle for the entire organisation with two delegates each."''<ref name="ecovillages" /> 

This model is not compatible with claims of a grassroots structure or decisions by consensus. The presentation also evokes the impression that the economic aspects of living together are not simply integrated, but rather that living together takes a subordinate role to economic aspects and organisational principles. The self-dependency claimed may further be canceled by the mentioned "dynamic supervision" which may superimpose both organisational and decision-making structures.

The statement of a leading ZEGG member regarding consensus decisions probably must be seen as programmatic: ''"What bothers you most regarding ZEGG? - Consensus decisions in which one Veto can stop all change and sabotage all preliminary work."''<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/bewohnerinnen.html</ref>

Another statement contends: ''"Decisions are revisable at any time if they don't prove themselves in practice"''<ref name="WP_Entscheidungen" /> (resp. more vaguely in its English version: ''"All decisions can be revised if they turn out to be unworkable in practice"''<ref name="WP_Decisions" />). Apart from the fact this does not provide any information on who gets to decide whether something passes the elk test, this is a remarkable platitude which should go without saying and does not emphasise a particular progressiveness.

===The Forum===
The so-called Forum is said to be central to ZEGG. It is a community ritual: ''"The group gathers and individual members express emotional incidents which then get 'mirrored' by the others."''<ref name="freitag">http://www.freitag.de/autoren/der-freitag/die-kommune-lebt</ref> According to reports available, participation in the Forum is compulsory for the inhabitants.<ref name="freitag" />
:''"Discussing individual conflicts in public is also a matter of politicising the private, a pet issue of many 68ers. After all, the microcosm here is meant to prove that a society is possible in which conflicts are not solved by violence, but by 'non-violent communication'."''<ref name="freitag" />
The Forum further is a ritual which was already applied within Muehl's Action Analytic Organisation, first with the label of "Action Analysis", and later on renamed to "Self-Expression".<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf) p. 9</ref>

Sources publically available resp. publications about the Forum cannot be established, despite its central significance for ZEGG. Peer reviews and supervision do not occur. It is, however, not to be dismissed that such group processes may put individual persons under considerable pressure and that it is possible to purposefully exploit the group ritual in order to isolate and silence individuals, for instance critics.

A press article quotes an inhabitant of ZEGG on the issue of Forum in this way: 
:''"Barbara Stützel, a blonde woman with a cheerful face, is a trained psychotherapist, but since she has been living at ZEGG, she only works as a singer and actress. "My need for psychology is completely satisfied by the Forum."''<ref name="freitag" /> 

The ZEGG-Forum has its own web presence which explains: ''"Forum has got three important roles: the actor, the facilitator, and the 'mirrors'. The group gathers in a circle. The actor goes into its middle and communicates their feelings and what moves them."''<ref name="hintergrundmaterial">http://www.zegg-forum.org/hintergrundmaterial.phtml</ref>

The process is described as follows: ''"The Forum facilitators assume a central role and need an in-depth training. They must become authentic themselves and learn to stay with the feelings which emerge within themselves or within the circle. Forum facilitators are like midwives supporting the authentic process of the actor. Ideally, there are two facilitators, a woman and a man. Only facilitators interact with the actor in the middle."''<ref name="hintergrundmaterial" /> There are no further details given regarding the training of facilitators.

The aforementioned website introduces Achim Ecker and Ina Meyer-Stoll as the directors of the Forum seminars. According to the information provided, both were already members of the ZEGG predecessor "Bauhütte" and participated in the development of the Forum.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/ueber-uns-1.phtml</ref> Ecker is said to have participated in a training for teachers of non-violent Direct Action during the 1980ies, and as having been involved with non-violent movements in Germany. However, the "Grassroots Revolution" Ecker mentions as one of those does not happen to be such a movement, but is a magazine in the libertarian movement. It may be assumed that Ecker introduced a vocabulary like "grass roots democracy" into ZEGG.

Another description of the Forum in English language was provided by Dolores Richter, a long-term member of ZEGG, propagating the Forum as a technology for existing communities:
:''"Each Forum, the length of which is agreed in advance, usually about 90 minutes, is guided by a facilitator whose task is to direct the presentation to bring out the general character of the personal issue. Thus each and every Forum becomes a learning process for all present. The facilitator alone may intervene in the presenter’s process, sometimes to confuse the presenter, sometimes to interrupt or to divert him if he or she gets stuck in repetitive thought trains. It doesn't make sense to allow somebody to speak forever if the personal drama becomes too drawn out and boring. Transparency is served when the person in the middle finds out about this boredom arising in his listeners. The facilitator has sensed that people were passively listening and silently thinking how boring is the story. Can the presenter be thankful for the intervention that brought to light the effect his words were having on his audience?
:''"The more knowledge one has about one's own habitual patterns of thinking and behaving the faster one can perceive them in others and intervene in a supportive way. The facilitator who doesn’t feel love and acceptance for the actor probably should resist intervening. Thus we see that the qualities of a facilitator include a high awareness of ones own emotional character, motives, thought forms and feelings. The skilful facilitator possesses a broad human knowledge, a high social consciousness and a deep sense of responsibility. At the same time the facilitator remains merely the member of the group who has taken on the temporary role of directing the Forum process. You could accurately characterise the facilitator as a channel focalising the energies, issues and processes. To some extent that does mean directing and shaping the process. Nevertheless, the facilitator has no answers, proffers no solutions, but rather remains in the role of a "focaliser", asking questions to bring out and broaden the issue, mirroring the actor in a way that opens up the issue, reveals connections, and connects with the vitality.
:''"Before beginning of Forum it is important that everyone in the circle delegate to the facilitator total trust to direct the process. So the circle, which contains the potential actors for the session, gives the facilitator the power to invite the presenter to sing a song, to stand on one’s head, to be a chicken...be whatever the facilitator intuits would be helpful for breaking a habitual pattern. And the facilitator can only fulfil this role faithfully when the full trust of the entire circle is given. And that trust must extend to the actor who sets aside questions about the direction of the facilitating. For all this conferred power, the facilitator is not above the group; he or she remains a member of the community and can be questioned and or criticised after the Forum. Only when the focaliser enjoys the full trust of the group can the high energy emerge which makes it possible to break through old habits in a co-operative, creative and playful flow."''<ref name="nfnc" />

The description reveals the so-called "facilitator" is given a central role as well as a considerable power which includes giving directions. The facilitator is expected to possess "a high awareness of ones own emotional character, motives, thought forms and feelings"; the text does, however, not mention how to establish these qualities or how to gain them. In case a facilitator does not feel "love and acceptance" for the actor, the text says, he "probably should resist intervening", so apparently the facilitator is not compelled to abstain from intervening in such cases. At the same time the facilitator is a simple member of the group ''"who has taken on the temporary role of directing the Forum process"'' and of the community, on the other hand he is to focalise ''"energies, issues and processes"''. This dual role may even promote the abuse of possibilities to the disadvantage of an actor and does not neutralise power distinctions, but may be exploited to conceal them.

Additionally, participants in the Forum are compelled to an advance confidence in the facilitator; they apparently are not in a position to reject a facilitator who, for his part, may abstain from intervention and instructions but is not compelled to. The reason given for this, the facilitator had to be trusted so that he may fulfil his role properly, leaves substantial space for assignments of guilt to the participants. The further note that facilitators may be questioned and criticised following the Forum as a member of the community is not valid, since for one the demanded confidence in a facilitator may prevent this, and likewise may the facilitator's privileged position prevent criticism.

Comparing the difference in German and English presentations, the German web presence does not address the facilitator's position of power, his authority to give instructions, and his dual role. This dichotomy of presentations does not facilitate transparency, but confirms the impression that ZEGG is only prepared to disclose what is inevitable and prefers to obscure facts.

===The Range of Seminars===
ZEGG's web presence divides seminars organised by ZEGG and those organised by external vendors.

====ZEGG Seminars====
For the second half of 2014, 52 events are listed as organised by ZEGG.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/veranstaltungen/zegg-veranstaltungen.html</ref> Eleven of these fall upon the category of support work which is comprised of three sub-categories: ZEGG support, ZEGG community, and ZEGG work campaigns. Apart from doing general 'support work as a summer guest', there is the category of work campaigns which call for assistance painting windows, with harvesting, with taking down the large tent, and with an 'Autumn Action'. Between April 25 and August 31, 2014, it is possible to do "seasonal work". There are two further events in the category of "ZEGG Congress Festival" and "ZEGG Info"; a further ZEGG Experience Week has not been allotted to any category.

Six events are listed in the category of ZEGG Forum. The Love Academy offers four seminars, with seven more ZEGG seminars in the fields of sexuality/love, so that this offers as many events as the category of doing supportive work. Another three musical events are added, among them a "Come Together Song-Festival" organised regularly, directed by long-term ZEGG member Hagara Feinbier. Five of the seminars announced are of a more general Newage character (e.g. systemic constellations).

A further regular event done by ZEGG is the so-called Whitsun Festival which in 2014 had the title "Experiment Philosombria":
:''"With the title "Experiment Philosombria" (philosombria: love of shadows), 300 persons turn to those parts of our personalities we usually push aside, conceal, don't want to accept, which have withdrawn into the "shadow". During the Festival, we intend to elicit them, pay attention to them, dance, laugh with them and meet them in a compassionate way ... and set free the life energies hiding within this. This will all happen in an always mindful, but also determined, concentrated way. The shadow shows us the way since it keeps the secret of change and our most valuable treasures.
:''The sentence "We can only change what we accept" (C.G. Jung) is one of the most central orientations.
:''Central aspects of the Festival will be creative lectures with drama and music as well as in-process research groups and rooms of experience. The days will be completed with manyfold highlights like innovative parties, rituals, performances, concerts, and spontaneous actions.
:''The fee for the Festival amounts to € 290, € 360, or € 430 according to financial options. This includes accomodation in tents or dorms and organic-vegetarian food. Smaller rooms available at surcharge. Rebates for work input possible."''<ref>http://www.presseschleuder.com/tag/pfingstfestival/</ref>

====Seminars of External Vendors====
During the second half of 2014, 27 seminars are organised by external vendors.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/veranstaltungen/seminare-externer-anbieter.html</ref> These are largely 'Tantra Matrix' and 'Secret of Tantra' with twelve seminars, and vendors from the Deer Tribe (Skwanesie Lodge and 'Lust und Wissen' [Desire and Knowledge]; the operators of Skwanesie Lodge live at the ZEGG premises) organise six more seminars. These vendors add a further 17 seminars in the realm of sexuality/love to the range of seminars offered by ZEGG so that this field is made up of 28 seminars altogether.

===Cooperation in Movements and Organisations===
By cooperating with various confederations and organisations, ZEGG aims at gaining social acceptance. Among these activities is a membership in the Global Ecovillages Network GEN which organises so-called ecologial villages. From approximately 2003 on, the Bureau of GEN-Europe had its office in the ZEGG premises.<ref>Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003, p. 128 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref> Apart from ZEGG, other members are Tamera, Damanhur, Findhorn, the Tribe of Likatians. The present (2014) Council of GEN-Europe has eight members, among them one each from the projects Damanhur, ZEGG, La Base/Spain (they do sweatlodges<ref>http://sites.ecovillage.org/de/node/3858</ref>), Tamera, and the Hungarian Krisna-völgy [Krishna Valley] which also is a member of ISKCON.

Over the years, ZEGG further attempted to gain a foothold in a more undogmatic left environment, as well as a non-violent scene and the peace movement<ref>see e.g. http://sites.ecovillage.org/de/node/3858</ref>, and recently also in the anti-globalisation movement. Attac lists ZEGG as a member, besides many organisations from Trade Unions, churches, political parties, ecological groups and organisations.<ref>http://www.attac-netzwerk.de/das-netzwerk/mitgliedsorganisationen/?no_cache=1&tx_macinabanners_pi1[banneruid]=67</ref>

==Cooperation with other Vendors on the Newage Market==
ZEGG has been cooperating with other vendors on the Newage market for years. Some of them also organise seminars at the ZEGG premises in Belzig, like e.g. the [[Deer Tribe]]. As Deer Tribe has strictly hierarchical structures, intends to create an elite, prepares for a 'race war' against migrants from Meso- and South America, and called for a civil war in case of Al Gore winning the presidential elections, for which case DT planned to join forces with extremist right US militias<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref>, there should be a sharp contrast to the grassroots democracy and to consensus decisions claimed by ZEGG; however, there is a common ground regarding the mutual approach to the realm of sexuality. It may perhaps be seen as an indicator of an emphasis of issues when such a cooperation lasts for years, with Deer Tribe apparently also in a position to organise their courses in self-defence and seminars within the framework of their hierarchical Gateway Process at the ZEGG premises.

Several vendors of Deer Tribe e.g. offered seminars in Bad Belzig in 2013 and 2014. These are e.g. Swiss residents Sabina Tschudi and Johannes Schröder who organised a seminar on "Body De-Armoring" in August 2013, the course taking a fortnight at a fee of € 1,950 plus cost for accomodation and food payable to ZEGG.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter">http://www.zegg.de/de/seminarzentrum/seminare-externer-anbieter.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> Tschudi and Schröder operate a "Stardreamer Lodge" of Deer Tribe in Switzerland.
Two further seminars titled "Skwanesie Lodge Annual Cycle" were organised by two members of Deer Tribe living at the ZEGG premises in Belzig.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />
A seminar titled "Raising children from a shamanic point of view" was organised by Rose Fink, an Austrian citizen who spent long years at the Deer Tribe headquarters in Arizona. Information provided on the seminar points out that Fink is a member of the cult since 1983.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />
Fink and "Batty" Gold also did seminars on "Quodoushka 1" and "Quodoushka 3" which is said to enable a "shamanic approach to sexuality". Gold, an Austrian citizen, too, is a long-term member of the cult and also lived in its headquarters for years.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />

ZEGG further cooperates with plastic shaman Francis Talbot who poses as a Wampanoag Indian and medicine person and goes by the name of "Manitonquat" (Medicine Story). Zegg as well as Tamera have been cooperating with Talbot since 1992.<ref>http://www.communiversitymagazine.org/web%20pages/Circle%20Way%20Village.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> In the section "Voices on ZEGG" at the ZEGG website, they publish a comment from Talbot whom they describe as a "spiritual teacher": ''"Thank you for having the courage to love, to live your dream and reach for rainbows.“''<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/stimmen-zum-zegg.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> ZEGG, and Tamera, came to aid in 2006 when Talbot, according to his claims, had run into problems with payments on the mortgage for his premises in the USA, and were apparently able to collect the amount necessary within short notice.<ref>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/message/6261 accessed 18.07.2013</ref>

==Criticism==
From various walks of life, ZEGG has been criticised for sexism against women, the promotion of a sexist perception of women, biologism, homophobia resp. heteronormativity, a monocausal understanding of crises, a totalising theory construction, dangerous models of self-healing in case of disease, youthism, and creating a feeling of doom. ZEGG has also been viewed as a sequel of Otto Muehl's sexist psycho-cult "Action Analytic Organisation" (AAO). Further criticism was raised on an intransparent financial conduct of ZEGG GmbH. According to information provided by the Protestant Church of Germany, adolescents from ZEGG are "introduced" to sexuality by ''knowing adults'' in Portugal, in order to prevent them from ''entering a commitment to personal love attachments too fast''.<ref>http://www.ekd.de/ezw/42787_40615.php</ref>

ZEGG's reaction was a "de-Duhmification campaign". Membership with "attac" presumably also aimed at increasing acceptance. Criticisms of an intransparent financial conduct were met with a public counterstatement.

Further criticism is raised regarding pseudo-scientific events like "ZEGG university" or "ZEGG summer university".

{{OtherLang|ge=ZEGG}}

==Weblinks==
* http://www.agpf.de/ZEGG.htm
* http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html
* http://www.zegg.de/
* http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG
* http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/archiv/?dig=2004/07/24/a0258
* http://www.relinfo.ch/zegg/
*[http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf)]

==References==
<references/>

ZEGG

2015-12-24T13:09:18Z

Halbmond: /* Further Associations and Organisations */

'''ZEGG''' is the abbreviation for "Centre for Experimental Cultural Design", a community of mostly Newage oriented persons in the town of Bad Belzig near Berlin founded in 1991. On its website, ZEGG goes by the name of "ZEGG - Centre for Research and Education GmbH".<ref>ZEGG - Forschungs- und Bildungszentrum GmbH, Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 89, 14806 Bad Belzig</ref> The number of persons living there is said to be about 100.

The settlement of ZEGG GmbH of today approx. 37,000 acres is an aggregation of buildings, tents, and camp grounds situated in a forest. The premises also houses several businesses and conference facilities. In the centre of the premises is a large, round space with a fountain which is also being used as a "place of power", for meditations, and as a "cosmic antenna". There is an Ashram group as well as a group doing tree meditation, sweatlodges and a bookshop offering Newage literature. ZEGG is also used as a conference centre for several commercial vendors of seminars on the psycho market.

During the reign of National Socialism, the premises were used as a holiday and sports camp. In German Democratic Republic, they were used by paramilitary "Society for Sports and Technics" (GST). In 1991, the premises were sold at a price of DM 2.1 million. The aim was to build an "international conference and research centre" which was to supply ''models for a socially and ecologically sustainable life''. In the beginning, critics and concerned persons insinuated inhabitants were practicing "free love" in the way of promiscuous sexual relations in their community. The leadership of initiator Dieter Duhm was described as patriarchal.

Publications are to be found in the magazines "ZEGG" and "ZEGG newsletter".

Typical for ZEGG is the "Forum", a practice reminding of psychodrama based on the so-called self-expressions as practiced within Action Analytical Organisation (AAO). In its course, a participant portrays his emotions, wishes, and problems in the centre of an audience in order to present them to the collective.

==Dieter Duhm==
ZEGG was founded by Dieter Duhm, a psychologist and author born in 1942, who was influenced by Otto Muehl's "Action Analytical Organisation" (AAO). One of the more popular proponents is actor Barbara Rütting. Meanwhile, Duhm lives in Portugal, in a "planetary healing biotope" by the name of Tamera also founded by him. Duhm has also initiated a "Peace School Mirja" and a "Political Ashram" in Tamera as training centres for future "peace workers".
Duhm also invented a "political theory" in which he uses terms like holography, chaos research, system theory, and morphogenetic field theory (coined by Rupert Sheldrake) which is expected to cause peace worldwide.

==ZEGG GmbH==
ZEGG GmbH (Ltd.) is the owner of the premises and organiser of the profitable conference centre. All adult and permanent inhabitants of ZEGG are said to be compelled to buy a subparticipation, so that in 2003, ZEGG GmbH had seven main shareholders and 112 persons holding subparticipations.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. p. 119 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf auccessed </ref> A subparticipation was sold at Euro 2,250 in 2003.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. p. 125 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref>

ZEGG GmbH is financed by contributions, monthly rent payments by inhabitants which in 2004 amounted to € 340<ref>http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/?dig=2004/07/24/a0258</ref> (more recent figures are not available); according to figures dating from 2003, monthly payments amounted to a total of Euro 450. This is specified with an amount of Euro 320 due for rent, a board fee of Euro 125, and a voluntary contribution for the children of the community between Euro 5 and Euro 50.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. Appendix 2, Interview 2. http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref> According to the information provided, the actual cost for inhabitants varied between Euro 450 and Euro 500. There is also a promotional society by the name of ZEGG-Club to which all members of the community belong.<ref> Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003. Appendix 2, Interview 4. http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref>

A further source of income for ZEGG GmbH are rents paid by resident enterprises. Both resident enterprises and inhabitant members of the community are said to be financially independent.<ref name="sensaciones">http://www.sensaciones.de/de/link/zegg-zentrum-fuer-experimentelle-gesellschafts-gestaltung</ref> External communication emphasises that ZEGG is financially independent and self-supporting.<ref name="ecovillages">http://www.ecovillages.eu/content/view/462/28/</ref>

ZEGG organises four festivals annually which see several hundred visitors.
Nonpaid work input by inhabitants and visitors may be seen as another source of income.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/seminarzentrum/terminkalender/venueevents/33-zegg-mitarbeit.html</ref>

==Origins and Development==
Giving a detailed account of the project is a challenging task, since independent sources are rare and some publications, e.g. Wikipedia, happen to be of a rather advertising character due to ZEGG inhabitants and proponents contributing. Likewise the renaming of projects, the re-use of names previously used for different projects, the number of projects founded etc. do not favour transparency. All in all, ZEGG's external communication is not oriented towards transparency:
:''"ZEGG is anxious to address as broad an audience as possible. Its public presentation [...] remains rather short and superficial. Material and information suitable to grant insights into ZEGG structures, its ideology, or contents of Forum training are kept from the public."''<ref name="Brünzels">http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf)</ref>

ZEGG was founded in 1991 by Dieter Duhm, Sabine Lichtenfels, and other persons. Duhm in particular had been influenced by Otto Muehl's Action Analytical Organisation AAO whose principles he sought to apply within his own organisation by the name of Bauhütte [i.e. site office] beginning in 1978.<ref name="sensaciones" /> Other ZEGG publications name Duhm and Lichtenfels as the founders of a Project Meiga from which ZEGG emerged.<ref name="ausfuehrlich-02">http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-02.php</ref> Meiga is described as a ''"network of individuals and projects"; its ''"members were participants of Bauhütte (1983-1986), a community experiment under the direction of Dieter Duhm and later of individuals from ZEGG and Tamera"''<ref>http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-03.php</ref>, or in a previous chapter, not quite in congruence: ''"Many of the community members belonging to the supportive group of ZEGG in 1991 had been members of »Bauhütte« (1983-1986), a »pioneer community« under the direction of Dieter Duhm"''.<ref name="ausfuehrlich-02" />

Another way of description claims Project Meiga was founded ''"as an alternative to Friedrichshof"'' [i.e. to Muehl's AAO9] and "''from its beginnings had contrarian thoughts: individual autonomy, mental pluralism, and mental orientation by experience"''.<ref name="coforum">http://coforum.de/?3193</ref> On the other hand, there are quotes by Duhm, particularly from the early years, like the following one dated 1991:
:''"These charismatic communities - even Poona and Friedrichshof - in a fatal sense of the word were also the 'democratic' ones, since demos, the people, wanted the Führer; it wanted to be directed, as it was only able to function and be able to have a community this way. This structure is emotionally valid until today, even if slogans claim differently. All well-meant sentences of grassroots democracy and individual autonomy fail at the psychic realities of the participants."'''<ref name="coforum" />

ZEGG at least keeps employing the argument of alleged grassroots structures and the character of an experiment of living and working together as well as an orientation towards ecology and sustainability for attempts to gain access to a broad undogmatic left environment, to alternative ecological and to Newage circles, but also to the peace movement.

===Excursus: Control of External Perception by ZEGG===
Through according processing and presentation of information, ZEGG tried and still tries to counter the criticism emerging since the mid-1980ies and either deny valid points of criticism or whitewash it with some verbosity. Apparently part of the respective tactics include divergences in information to a lesser or greater extent in different media; in some cases, this even comes close to fact resistance, so e.g. when the project founder Dieter Duhm gets characterised as "one of the leading intellectuals of the 68 movement".<ref name="WP_Geschichte">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Geschichte_und_Kritik_am_ZEGG</ref>

Another aspect of diverging information in different media is e.g. providing differing data regarding founding dates, so that, as one example, the German Wikipedia at one point in time claimed ZEGG predecessor "Bauhütte" was founded in 1978<ref name="WP117820090">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=117820090&oldid=117521770</ref> and English Wikipedia still carries this information<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG_%28community%29#History_of_the_Ideas</ref>, while a ZEGG declaration states Bauhütte was founded in 1983. The German article lost some information on the so-called ZEGG Forum in 2012 while the paragraph describing decision structures was trimmed and rendered more vague in the process.<ref name="WP109072580">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=109072580&oldid=105590460</ref> Critical literature listed sometimes got deleted<ref name="WP137938738">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=137938738&oldid=137394241</ref>, as well as the term "esoteric".<ref name="WP120772997">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=120772997&oldid=120119560</ref> In April 2013, another article critical of ZEGG was deleted and replaced by a favourable one written for a local newspaper by to inhabitants of ZEGG.<ref name="WP117820090" />

In 2011 already, paragraphs providing information on the occupations of inhabitants and ZEGG finances were deleted:
:''"A substantial part of the community works in the fields of accomodation and catering for guests, organising of seminars, agriculture and taking care of the premises. The fields of activity are self-governed, decisions will be taken by the workers. All inhabitants also do volunteer work."''<ref name="WP86952640">http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ZEGG&diff=86952640&oldid=86952148</ref>
:''"One requirement when purchasing the premises was that an amount equalling the sum spent [DM 2.1 million] had to be invested into the premises. This was realised by financial contributions to ZEGG GmbH [Ltd.] from supporters and bank loans."''<ref name="WP86952640" />

From November 2010 resp. March 2011, two persons connected to ZEGG contribute to both the German and English Wikipedia articles who also effected the changes mentioned above; the conflict of interest seems to go unnoticed. The changes and deletions effected by these persons contribute to casting a light as positive as possible unto ZEGG while problems addressed will be either deleted discretely or played down, and merits get highlighted.

===Further Associations and Organisations===
A multitude of further associations and organisations have been founded out of ZEGG resp. Project Meiga, with some of them continuing until today while others have ceased to exist.

Among those groups inactive today is e.g. Sexpeace which may have been readjusted during its existence, since it is sometimes described as a group of artists while other reports speak of a "project to save free love".<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/de.org.ccc/Uu13kb3qzOk</ref> Similarly, the drama group "The Unredeemed" and the youth projects "Undersky" and "Jetzt e.V. - Youth developing the Future" have become inactive.

This is also true of an organisation ZEGG describes as a humanitarian aid project by the name of "Aktion Perestroika e.V." which, however, is still existant in a list of associations; although the address supplies a different street number which may be due to a simple typing error, the phone number listed is an extension of the ZEGG telephone number.<ref>http://www.vereinsverzeichnis.eu/verein,13617,.html</ref> The association Aktion Perestroika e.V. was founded in 1990 with the claim of providing humanitarian aid and donating respective goods to Russia; one founding member was Sten Linnander who according to information provided by himself previously had been a member of "Bauhütte" from 1983 on; he became the president of Aktion Perestroika. Prior to joining Bauhütte, Linnander is said to have been a member of Muehl's AAO at Friedrichshof.<ref name="nadir_all">https://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/zegg_all.html#xtocid323348</ref> Between 1994 and 2002, Linnander lived in Arizona where he says to have studied indigenous shamanism.<ref>http://p2pfoundation.net/Sten_Linnander</ref> Phoenix/Arizona is the home of the headquarters of [[Deer Tribe]], with whom ZEGG cooperates in Bad Belzig; several vendors from Deer Tribe offer seminars at their premises.

Another inactive project is "Haven Arctica" which was also directed by Sten Linnander; it used the motto "Melt your Hearts and not the Arctic" and meant to combine ''"ecological, political, and spiritual research matters for healing and protecting the Arctic with ideas for human healing"'', for which one intended to call and whistle for polar lights in the north of Sweden.<ref name="nadir_all" />

Nature and Wilderness School Achillea still seems to be active. One of its co-founders also runs Ökotec GmbH<ref>http://www.lichtpraxis.eu/ern%C3%A4hrung/wildkr%C3%A4uter/wildkr%C3%A4uter-2/</ref> which is said to belong to the environment of ZEGG. According to information given by ZEGG, Ökotec GmbH is financially and organisationally independent; it uses rooms in the ZEGG premises at Bad Belzig.<ref name="nadir_03">https://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/zegg_03.html</ref>

The so-called "Erotic Academy Casa Las Piteras", later on renamed "Erotic Academy La Massilia", was founded by Gina Wiesmann and Frieda Radford in 1992 and closed down in 1998 already:
:''"It was meant to be a place for love. And during the five years of existence this was realised... La Massilia was a source of strength for many like-minded persons who, over the years, came to this beautiful spot on Lanzarote. There were parties which tingled with eroticism. People philosophised, danced, laughed, flirted, and everyboy knew that everything was possible any time. There were various love rooms to which one could retreat, and other erotic arrangements which were lavishly used. The team running La Massilia always knew how to seduce their guests.
:''... A truthful contact between men and women was highly cultivated there, from the first contact up to and including the bed. When one took into consideration not to belittle one's counterpart nor to put them on a piedestal, but simply expressed one's perceptions, then indeed (almost) everything was possible, from a quick sexual adventure to a romantic love story..."''<ref>http://atelier3000.de/massilia/massiliahistory.html</ref>

According to other information, the project was envisioned as a ''"thinktank for relations between the sexes"''.<ref> Schmid, Georg: Kirchen, Sekten, Religionen: religiöse Gemeinschaften, weltanschauliche Gruppierungen und Psycho-Organisationen im deutschen Sprachraum. Ein Handbuch. Zurüch 2003. p. 481</ref>

Another project was the so-called research ship "Kairos" with its home port at Lanzarote, under the direction of Martina Gisler. The vessel was meant to research the sea as the "uterus of life" and the communication with whales and dolphins in cooperation with the so-called ZEGG University. Additionally, "erotic turns" were arranged with the vessel.<ref name="nadir_03" /> Gisler directed the project for five years<ref name="spiritherz">http://www.spiritherz.de/martina-gisler.phtml</ref> and today runs a Rolfing office in the towns of Potsdam and Berlin.
According to information provided by Gisler, she is also a ''"teacher on the traditional shamanic path of the Twisted Hairs"''<ref name="spiritherz" />, thus employing one of the code names used by Deer Tribe of which she thus also is a member.

Among the groups active today is "jung im zegg" [Young in ZEGG] which has its own website and particularly addresses ''young persons up to an age of 35'', propagating various ways of non-paid work as a way to get to know ZEGG:
:''"During the summer months, there is much work to do on the premises of the community: building, grooming, harvesting, refurbishing, renewing, extending... What would we do without our industrious supporters? For energetic young persons in particular, working as a summer guest is a beautiful and cost-efficient possibility to get to know the community. Following short morning preliminaries, the motley work teams swarm the premises to spend the next approx. five hours working in the compound, in the garden, or in the kitchen. In the afternoon, there are group meetings, on Saturdays perhaps a dancing party and apart from that much time to explore ZEGG."''<ref name="sommergast">http://www.jung.im.zegg.de/mitarbeit/sommergast.html</ref>
For this unpaid work, interested persons pay ''"€ 56 per week including accomodation and food"''.<ref name="sommergast" />

ZEGG also offers the possibility to do internships, also in the companies situated at their premises, as well as a so-called FÖJ, i.e. a gap year doing volunteer work in ecological projects.<ref name="foej">http://www.jung.im.zegg.de/praktikum-foej/foej.html</ref> FÖJ volunteers at ZEGG will work in the following fields:
:''"You will above all work in our ecological permaculture garden, in the canteen kitchen which prepares biological, regional, and vegetarian meals, in grooming the compound or in the children's house. Besides this you will support the cooking groups and the cleaners together with the persons living at ZEGG. Participation in community events will be counted as working time.
:''ZEGG offers two FÖJ places, so you will work together often and you will live together, probably sharing accomodation with persons doing internships. You will be integrated into already existing groups of seasoners or winter guests with whom you will organise in common living quarters and form a common Forum group."''<ref name="foej" />
Persons doing internships and FÖJ apparently are compelled to participate in the Forum and will thus be introduced to the prevailing ZEGG ideology. This is quite remarkable, as FÖJ is financed and realised by the federal states.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_ecological_year</ref>

A further project is the so-called ZEGG Love Academy with its own web presence which addresses an audience of various age-groups:
:''"Whether you just begun to discover your lovelife, are in the midst of an Eros lived and are inspired by your inquiring spirit of research, or are looking for new stimuli after a long-term relationship - you are welcome to our Love Academy, to take your time for a look at your very personal and intimate issues, cravings, fears, and desires."''<ref>http://www.zegg-liebesakademie.de</ref>

In their statement "Why a Love Academy", the site provides a presentation which employs arguments and a vocabulary reminding of the ideas of Duhm and Lichtenfels, although ZEGG distance themselves from them:
:''"Both love and sexuality belong to the strongest forces of our life. They are more powerful than the mind, eliminate pain, hunger, and weariness, impel us to reproduction and therefore are the basis of our existence. Love and sexuality thus are the most profound driving forces and needs in our life.
:''In their unredeemed form, love and sexuality become a trigger of deep trauma resulting in a sick heart and body, lonely compensation, and violence.
:''Since the majority of persons is not in a position to appease their basic need for fulfilled love and sexuality for a variety of reasons, there is an enormous indigence and an only too often unhappy social state in the world."''<ref>http://www.zegg-liebesakademie.de/warum-eine-liebesakademie-1.phtml</ref>

Due to the separation of ZEGG from Tamera, the superordinate Project Meiga has become obsolete; the Meiga Publishing House, however, still exists and offers publications by Dieter Duhm and Sabine Lichtenfels.

===De-Duhmification Campaign===
Around the end of the 1990ies, a growing out of each other happened between ZEGG and its initiator Dieter Duhm as well as other persons previously influential. At this time, Duhm as well as ZEGG had come under criticism due to the inclusion of theoretical and practical aspects which were first developed within AAO. Duhm had never distanced himself from Muehl, resp. only half-heartedly done so, e.g. in 1993, when he said he did not know whether the prosecution against Muehl was based on facts or not, resp.: ''"I cannot judge him by his personal shortcomings, he has accomplished too much for that."''<ref>http://www.trend.infopartisan.net/trd0299/t370299.html</ref> In a further statement dated 1997 Duhm relativised and basically declared wrong the court sentence against Muehl: ''""... since I knew from my own experience how difficult it is to fully work at the issue of sexuality and community without committing human and historic errors. (This of course does not include the abuse of children. I don't know what happened in Muehl's case.)"''<ref>http://www.agpf.de/ZEGG.htm</ref> After all, Duhm made these comments six years after Muehl's conviction<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_M%C3%BChl#Muehl_vor_Gericht</ref>; his objection he did not know what really happened does not only question the court sentence, but denies the crimes.

In another statement of 2005, Duhm phrases even more explicitely:
:''"And due to my knowledge of his person and his character I deem it impossible he sexually abused children. It is dreadful, it is a dreadful mess what he is being accused of, and what simply gets believed! Rape of young women from the age of 13, sexual abuse of young children from the age of four - and over years! I still cannot believe it when I have to read such defamation."''<ref name="Brünzels" /> 
So eight years after the first comment, Duhm declares the prosecution a mere defamation. By saying "and what simply gets believed", he once more questions the proper implementation of the lawsuit against Muehl. Duhm's use of the phrase of "young women from the age of 13" furthermore trivialises the criminal acts Muehl was held accountable for.

ZEGG distanced themselves only in 2007 and claimed: ''"Dieter Duhm, on whose ideas the foundation of ZEGG was based, initially was enthused by the concepts of the previous AAO commune, but already in 1979 definitely distanced himself from Otto Muehl and AAO and parted with them."''<ref>http://www.stellungnahme.zegg.de/ausfuehrlich-04.php</ref> At the same time, ZEGG attempted to downplay the connection to Duhm emphasising that Duhm never lived at the ZEGG premises.<ref>see e.g. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Geschichte_und_Kritik_am_ZEGG</ref> However, a place of residence is not essential to establish an influence on persons; after all Karl Marx had no place of residence in Petersburg in October 1917. To which extent the separation of the projects ZEGG and Tamera was an attempt at damage control and at brushing up the image, resp. whether this damage control resulted in or from infighting, cannot be verified from the literature available, but on the other hand also cannot be excluded.

==Focus and Orientation==
Since its beginning, the issue of "free love and sexuality" has always been present and addressed in press releases and promotional texts, and seminars and so-called "academies" covering it have been arranged. It seems that, for promotional purpose, one is quite prepared to employ the image which emerged externally, although on the other hand one tries to evoke the impression that ZEGG is more of a bore than a club of stamp collectors. Apparently, ZEGG detached from occurences in earlier years from which there are reports on female members selling "erotic massages" resp. doing sex work<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskussion:ZEGG/Archiv/2006#Dieser_Artikel_kann_leider_nur_noch_als_Fallstudie_dienen.2C_zum_Thema_Desinformation_in_Wikipedia.</ref>, and when sexual promiscuity e.g. got promoted as a cure against AIDS.

Meanwhile, even critical publications state: ''""Unlike what happened during the mid-90ies, social problems today no longer get portrayed blindly and undifferentiatedly as being caused by oppressed sexuality."''<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf), p. 20</ref> However, ZEGG still today introduce themselves in this way: ''"During the course of the year, numerous seminars and four large festivals take place at ZEGG. A particular focus is placed on the realm of human relationships, so e.g. in communication trainings or seminars on love and sexuality."''<ref name="ecovillages" /> The above quoted comments from the website of ZEGG's Love Academy, too, raise doubts that such a change happened as comprehensively as claimed.

What caused shifts and to which extent it is a real change or just cosmetic processings of an external view cannot be established due to the prevailing lack of transparency. Another unfavourable aspect contributing negatively to the external view was the fact that ZEGG distanced themselves from Muehl and his pedophile crimes only in 2007. It remains problematic, however, that ZEGG does not seem to be prepared to elaborate on its views regarding sexual contacts between elder adults and adolescents.

On the other hand, ZEGG continues to cooperate with Deer Tribe who e.g. employ sexual practices to psychically break, and therefore control, seminar participants, and who sell seminars on alleged indigenous spiritual sexual practices they name Quodoushka.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref> Its head Harley Reagan, of Irish descent and with no known indigenous ancestry, was propagated as an authentic Indian representative by ZEGG during the early 1990ies.<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/cl.antifa.neue_rechte/FlctMaKZw-8</ref>

In other environments - like e.g. promoting seminars on the so-called ZEGG Forum in the USA -, ZEGG members present the ZEGG focus with a different assessment:
:''"Project Meiga began as a research project committed to the spirit of experimentation, but both in content and method lying well outside the purview of institutionalised science. The project was conceived as interdisciplinary life research in biology, physics, medicine and psychology designed to re-integrate the fragmentation in all parts of life that permeates modern society. It was very soon realised that this kind of radical research could only be done rigorously and systematically in the laboratory of communal living and working.
:''Professor Dieter Duhm was the initiator of this social experiment in holistic life research which from the very beginning focused on the basic issues that invariably arise out of humans living together. Thus the nature of love, forms of relationship, the origin of jealousy, conflicts about authority, and concepts of raising children came under the social microscope. Identifying basic human longings and needs, investigating the roots of latent fear and violence, examining what constitutes disease and healing, finding ways to optimise nutrition and raise energy, all became grist for the experimental mill. The project enquired as well into the source of life energy (God), meaning and goals for life, examined creation theories, and attempted to evaluate possible long-term directions for evolution in the history of mankind."''<ref name="nfnc">http://www.nfnc.org/info/document_library/what_is_the_zegg_forum/</ref>

It has to be pointed out that there is no information available regarding Duhm holding a professorship; according to the English Wikipedia, Duhm refused a professorship and already left academia in 1975.<ref name="WP_Duhm">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Duhm#Life_and_work</ref> The claim of an "interdisciplinary life research on biology, physics, medicine and psychology" would be far too ambitious even if Duhm (he studied psychology and received a doctorate in sociology<ref name="WP_Duhm" />) had not refused a professorship. Furthermore, the above presentation is a rather unsystematic mixture of the fields of work chosen with "the nature of love, forms of relationship, the origin of jealousy, conflicts about authority, and concepts of raising children" and "roots of latent fear and violence, examining what constitutes disease and healing, finding ways to optimise nutrition and raise energy".

===Decision making Structures===
In image presentations, ZEGG describe themselves as "grassroots" and ideologically pluralistic.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/zegg-kontrovers/stellungnahme-2013.html</ref> Employing the claim of grassroots democracy, ZEGG seeks to gain acceptance in an undogmatic left environment. Sometimes, decision making is said to happen by consensus.<ref name="WP_Entscheidungen">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG#Entscheidungen_und_Organisation</ref> In reality, decisions seem to be taken by a so-called "council of 13" on whose structure and appointment no further information was or is available; apparently this is also not transparent for all inhabitants of ZEGG.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf), p. 8</ref> Whether the "Visionsrat" mentioned elsewhere is identical with the council of 13, cannot be established.<ref name="WP_Decisions">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG_%28community%29#Decisions_and_Organisation</ref> The mere existence of such a council runs contrary to a decision making by consensus as well as to a grassroots democracy.

Some self-portrayals present divergent descriptions: 
:''"Financial decisions of a larger volume are made according to a sociocratic model in a management circle."''<ref name="sensaciones" />, resp.: 
:''"An important basis of the ZEGG community is the common work. A large part of the community works in our seminar sector, in the garden, or in the compound. This is where community members meet in every-day life, this is where decisions are being taken which affect the fields of work. The community is organised according to a sociocratic model which functions like a flexible and adjustable operations system for an organisation. It consists of three elements: an organisational structure, a decision-making structure, and a dynamic supervision. The model is based on self-dependent circles which participate in an superordinate circle for the entire organisation with two delegates each."''<ref name="ecovillages" /> 

This model is not compatible with claims of a grassroots structure or decisions by consensus. The presentation also evokes the impression that the economic aspects of living together are not simply integrated, but rather that living together takes a subordinate role to economic aspects and organisational principles. The self-dependency claimed may further be canceled by the mentioned "dynamic supervision" which may superimpose both organisational and decision-making structures.

The statement of a leading ZEGG member regarding consensus decisions probably must be seen as programmatic: ''"What bothers you most regarding ZEGG? - Consensus decisions in which one Veto can stop all change and sabotage all preliminary work."''<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/bewohnerinnen.html</ref>

Another statement contends: ''"Decisions are revisable at any time if they don't prove themselves in practice"''<ref name="WP_Entscheidungen" /> (resp. more vaguely in its English version: ''"All decisions can be revised if they turn out to be unworkable in practice"''<ref name="WP_Decisions" />). Apart from the fact this does not provide any information on who gets to decide whether something passes the elk test, this is a remarkable platitude which should go without saying and does not emphasise a particular progressiveness.

===The Forum===
The so-called Forum is said to be central to ZEGG. It is a community ritual: ''"The group gathers and individual members express emotional incidents which then get 'mirrored' by the others."''<ref name="freitag">http://www.freitag.de/autoren/der-freitag/die-kommune-lebt</ref> According to reports available, participation in the Forum is compulsory for the inhabitants.<ref name="freitag" />
:''"Discussing individual conflicts in public is also a matter of politicising the private, a pet issue of many 68ers. After all, the microcosm here is meant to prove that a society is possible in which conflicts are not solved by violence, but by 'non-violent communication'."''<ref name="freitag" />
The Forum further is a ritual which was already applied within Muehl's Action Analytic Organisation, first with the label of "Action Analysis", and later on renamed to "Self-Expression".<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf) p. 9</ref>

Sources publically available resp. publications about the Forum cannot be established, despite its central significance for ZEGG. Peer reviews and supervision do not occur. It is, however, not to be dismissed that such group processes may put individual persons under considerable pressure and that it is possible to purposefully exploit the group ritual in order to isolate and silence individuals, for instance critics.

A press article quotes an inhabitant of ZEGG on the issue of Forum in this way: 
:''"Barbara Stützel, a blonde woman with a cheerful face, is a trained psychotherapist, but since she has been living at ZEGG, she only works as a singer and actress. "My need for psychology is completely satisfied by the Forum."''<ref name="freitag" /> 

The ZEGG-Forum has its own web presence which explains: ''"Forum has got three important roles: the actor, the facilitator, and the 'mirrors'. The group gathers in a circle. The actor goes into its middle and communicates their feelings and what moves them."''<ref name="hintergrundmaterial">http://www.zegg-forum.org/hintergrundmaterial.phtml</ref>

The process is described as follows: ''"The Forum facilitators assume a central role and need an in-depth training. They must become authentic themselves and learn to stay with the feelings which emerge within themselves or within the circle. Forum facilitators are like midwives supporting the authentic process of the actor. Ideally, there are two facilitators, a woman and a man. Only facilitators interact with the actor in the middle."''<ref name="hintergrundmaterial" /> There are no further details given regarding the training of facilitators.

The aforementioned website introduces Achim Ecker and Ina Meyer-Stoll as the directors of the Forum seminars. According to the information provided, both were already members of the ZEGG predecessor "Bauhütte" and participated in the development of the Forum.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/ueber-uns-1.phtml</ref> Ecker is said to have participated in a training for teachers of non-violent Direct Action during the 1980ies, and as having been involved with non-violent movements in Germany. However, the "Grassroots Revolution" Ecker mentions as one of those does not happen to be such a movement, but is a magazine in the libertarian movement. It may be assumed that Ecker introduced a vocabulary like "grass roots democracy" into ZEGG.

Another description of the Forum in English language was provided by Dolores Richter, a long-term member of ZEGG, propagating the Forum as a technology for existing communities:
:''"Each Forum, the length of which is agreed in advance, usually about 90 minutes, is guided by a facilitator whose task is to direct the presentation to bring out the general character of the personal issue. Thus each and every Forum becomes a learning process for all present. The facilitator alone may intervene in the presenter’s process, sometimes to confuse the presenter, sometimes to interrupt or to divert him if he or she gets stuck in repetitive thought trains. It doesn't make sense to allow somebody to speak forever if the personal drama becomes too drawn out and boring. Transparency is served when the person in the middle finds out about this boredom arising in his listeners. The facilitator has sensed that people were passively listening and silently thinking how boring is the story. Can the presenter be thankful for the intervention that brought to light the effect his words were having on his audience?
:''"The more knowledge one has about one's own habitual patterns of thinking and behaving the faster one can perceive them in others and intervene in a supportive way. The facilitator who doesn’t feel love and acceptance for the actor probably should resist intervening. Thus we see that the qualities of a facilitator include a high awareness of ones own emotional character, motives, thought forms and feelings. The skilful facilitator possesses a broad human knowledge, a high social consciousness and a deep sense of responsibility. At the same time the facilitator remains merely the member of the group who has taken on the temporary role of directing the Forum process. You could accurately characterise the facilitator as a channel focalising the energies, issues and processes. To some extent that does mean directing and shaping the process. Nevertheless, the facilitator has no answers, proffers no solutions, but rather remains in the role of a "focaliser", asking questions to bring out and broaden the issue, mirroring the actor in a way that opens up the issue, reveals connections, and connects with the vitality.
:''"Before beginning of Forum it is important that everyone in the circle delegate to the facilitator total trust to direct the process. So the circle, which contains the potential actors for the session, gives the facilitator the power to invite the presenter to sing a song, to stand on one’s head, to be a chicken...be whatever the facilitator intuits would be helpful for breaking a habitual pattern. And the facilitator can only fulfil this role faithfully when the full trust of the entire circle is given. And that trust must extend to the actor who sets aside questions about the direction of the facilitating. For all this conferred power, the facilitator is not above the group; he or she remains a member of the community and can be questioned and or criticised after the Forum. Only when the focaliser enjoys the full trust of the group can the high energy emerge which makes it possible to break through old habits in a co-operative, creative and playful flow."''<ref name="nfnc" />

The description reveals the so-called "facilitator" is given a central role as well as a considerable power which includes giving directions. The facilitator is expected to possess "a high awareness of ones own emotional character, motives, thought forms and feelings"; the text does, however, not mention how to establish these qualities or how to gain them. In case a facilitator does not feel "love and acceptance" for the actor, the text says, he "probably should resist intervening", so apparently the facilitator is not compelled to abstain from intervening in such cases. At the same time the facilitator is a simple member of the group ''"who has taken on the temporary role of directing the Forum process"'' and of the community, on the other hand he is to focalise ''"energies, issues and processes"''. This dual role may even promote the abuse of possibilities to the disadvantage of an actor and does not neutralise power distinctions, but may be exploited to conceal them.

Additionally, participants in the Forum are compelled to an advance confidence in the facilitator; they apparently are not in a position to reject a facilitator who, for his part, may abstain from intervention and instructions but is not compelled to. The reason given for this, the facilitator had to be trusted so that he may fulfil his role properly, leaves substantial space for assignments of guilt to the participants. The further note that facilitators may be questioned and criticised following the Forum as a member of the community is not valid, since for one the demanded confidence in a facilitator may prevent this, and likewise may the facilitator's privileged position prevent criticism.

Comparing the difference in German and English presentations, the German web presence does not address the facilitator's position of power, his authority to give instructions, and his dual role. This dichotomy of presentations does not facilitate transparency, but confirms the impression that ZEGG is only prepared to disclose what is inevitable and prefers to obscure facts.

===The Range of Seminars===
ZEGG's web presence divides seminars organised by ZEGG and those organised by external vendors.

====ZEGG Seminars====
For the second half of 2014, 52 events are listed as organised by ZEGG.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/veranstaltungen/zegg-veranstaltungen.html</ref> Eleven of these fall upon the category of support work which is comprised of three sub-categories: ZEGG support, ZEGG community, and ZEGG work campaigns. Apart from doing general 'support work as a summer guest', there is the category of work campaigns which call for assistance painting windows, with harvesting, with taking down the large tent, and with an 'Autumn Action'. Between April 25 and August 31, 2014, it is possible to do "seasonal work". There are two further events in the category of "ZEGG Congress Festival" and "ZEGG Info"; a further ZEGG Experience Week has not been allotted to any category.

Six events are listed in the category of ZEGG Forum. The Love Academy offers four seminars, with seven more ZEGG seminars in the fields of sexuality/love, so that this offers as many events as the category of doing supportive work. Another three musical events are added, among them a "Come Together Song-Festival" organised regularly, directed by long-term ZEGG member Hagara Feinbier. Five of the seminars announced are of a more general Newage character (e.g. systemic constellations).

A further regular event done by ZEGG is the so-called Whitsun Festival which in 2014 had the title "Experiment Philosombria":
:''"With the title "Experiment Philosombria" (philosombria: love of shadows), 300 persons turn to those parts of our personalities we usually push aside, conceal, don't want to accept, which have withdrawn into the "shadow". During the Festival, we intend to elicit them, pay attention to them, dance, laugh with them and meet them in a compassionate way ... and set free the life energies hiding within this. This will all happen in an always mindful, but also determined, concentrated way. The shadow shows us the way since it keeps the secret of change and our most valuable treasures.
:''The sentence "We can only change what we accept" (C.G. Jung) is one of the most central orientations.
:''Central aspects of the Festival will be creative lectures with drama and music as well as in-process research groups and rooms of experience. The days will be completed with manyfold highlights like innovative parties, rituals, performances, concerts, and spontaneous actions.
:''The fee for the Festival amounts to € 290, € 360, or € 430 according to financial options. This includes accomodation in tents or dorms and organic-vegetarian food. Smaller rooms available at surcharge. Rebates for work input possible."''<ref>http://www.presseschleuder.com/tag/pfingstfestival/</ref>

====Seminars of External Vendors====
During the second half of 2014, 27 seminars are organised by external vendors.<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/veranstaltungen/seminare-externer-anbieter.html</ref> These are largely 'Tantra Matrix' and 'Secret of Tantra' with twelve seminars, and vendors from the Deer Tribe (Skwanesie Lodge and 'Lust und Wissen' [Desire and Knowledge]; the operators of Skwanesie Lodge live at the ZEGG premises) organise six more seminars. These vendors add a further 17 seminars in the realm of sexuality/love to the range of seminars offered by ZEGG so that this field is made up of 28 seminars altogether.

===Cooperation in Movements and Organisations===
By cooperating with various confederations and organisations, ZEGG aims at gaining social acceptance. Among these activities is a membership in the Global Ecovillages Network GEN which organises so-called ecologial villages. From approximately 2003 on, the Bureau of GEN-Europe had its office in the ZEGG premises.<ref>Dierschke, Thomas: Intentionale Gemeinschaften. Münster 2003, p. 128 http://repositorium.uni-muenster.de/document/miami/0eaa294f-b47f-470c-b54d-1649fbb11149/dierschke_mag-arb.pdf</ref> Apart from ZEGG, other members are Tamera, Damanhur, Findhorn, the Tribe of Likatians. The present (2014) Council of GEN-Europe has eight members, among them one each from the projects Damanhur, ZEGG, La Base/Spain (they do sweatlodges<ref>http://sites.ecovillage.org/de/node/3858</ref>), Tamera, and the Hungarian Krisna-völgy [Krishna Valley] which also is a member of ISKCON.

Over the years, ZEGG further attempted to gain a foothold in a more undogmatic left environment, as well as a non-violent scene and the peace movement<ref>see e.g. http://sites.ecovillage.org/de/node/3858</ref>, and recently also in the anti-globalisation movement. Attac lists ZEGG as a member, besides many organisations from Trade Unions, churches, political parties, ecological groups and organisations.<ref>http://www.attac-netzwerk.de/das-netzwerk/mitgliedsorganisationen/?no_cache=1&tx_macinabanners_pi1[banneruid]=67</ref>

==Cooperation with other Vendors on the Newage Market==
ZEGG has been cooperating with other vendors on the Newage market for years. Some of them also organise seminars at the ZEGG premises in Belzig, like e.g. the [[Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|Deer Tribe]]. As Deer Tribe has strictly hierarchical structures, intends to create an elite, prepares for a 'race war' against migrants from Meso- and South America, and called for a civil war in case of Al Gore winning the presidential elections, for which case DT planned to join forces with extremist right US militias<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref>, there should be a sharp contrast to the grassroots democracy and to consensus decisions claimed by ZEGG; however, there is a common ground regarding the mutual approach to the realm of sexuality. It may perhaps be seen as an indicator of an emphasis of issues when such a cooperation lasts for years, with Deer Tribe apparently also in a position to organise their courses in self-defence and seminars within the framework of their hierarchical Gateway Process at the ZEGG premises.

Several vendors of Deer Tribe e.g. offered seminars in Bad Belzig in 2013 and 2014. These are e.g. Swiss residents Sabina Tschudi and Johannes Schröder who organised a seminar on "Body De-Armoring" in August 2013, the course taking a fortnight at a fee of € 1,950 plus cost for accomodation and food payable to ZEGG.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter">http://www.zegg.de/de/seminarzentrum/seminare-externer-anbieter.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> Tschudi and Schröder operate a "Stardreamer Lodge" of Deer Tribe in Switzerland.
Two further seminars titled "Skwanesie Lodge Annual Cycle" were organised by two members of Deer Tribe living at the ZEGG premises in Belzig.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />
A seminar titled "Raising children from a shamanic point of view" was organised by Rose Fink, an Austrian citizen who spent long years at the Deer Tribe headquarters in Arizona. Information provided on the seminar points out that Fink is a member of the cult since 1983.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />
Fink and "Batty" Gold also did seminars on "Quodoushka 1" and "Quodoushka 3" which is said to enable a "shamanic approach to sexuality". Gold, an Austrian citizen, too, is a long-term member of the cult and also lived in its headquarters for years.<ref name="seminare-externer-anbieter" />

ZEGG further cooperates with plastic shaman Francis Talbot who poses as a Wampanoag Indian and medicine person and goes by the name of "Manitonquat" (Medicine Story). Zegg as well as Tamera have been cooperating with Talbot since 1992.<ref>http://www.communiversitymagazine.org/web%20pages/Circle%20Way%20Village.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> In the section "Voices on ZEGG" at the ZEGG website, they publish a comment from Talbot whom they describe as a "spiritual teacher": ''"Thank you for having the courage to love, to live your dream and reach for rainbows.“''<ref>http://www.zegg.de/de/zegg-gemeinschaft/stimmen-zum-zegg.html accessed 18.07.2013</ref> ZEGG, and Tamera, came to aid in 2006 when Talbot, according to his claims, had run into problems with payments on the mortgage for his premises in the USA, and were apparently able to collect the amount necessary within short notice.<ref>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/message/6261 accessed 18.07.2013</ref>

==Criticism==
From various walks of life, ZEGG has been criticised for sexism against women, the promotion of a sexist perception of women, biologism, homophobia resp. heteronormativity, a monocausal understanding of crises, a totalising theory construction, dangerous models of self-healing in case of disease, youthism, and creating a feeling of doom. ZEGG has also been viewed as a sequel of Otto Muehl's sexist psycho-cult "Action Analytic Organisation" (AAO). Further criticism was raised on an intransparent financial conduct of ZEGG GmbH. According to information provided by the Protestant Church of Germany, adolescents from ZEGG are "introduced" to sexuality by ''knowing adults'' in Portugal, in order to prevent them from ''entering a commitment to personal love attachments too fast''.<ref>http://www.ekd.de/ezw/42787_40615.php</ref>

ZEGG's reaction was a "de-Duhmification campaign". Membership with "attac" presumably also aimed at increasing acceptance. Criticisms of an intransparent financial conduct were met with a public counterstatement.

Further criticism is raised regarding pseudo-scientific events like "ZEGG university" or "ZEGG summer university".

{{OtherLang|ge=ZEGG}}

==Weblinks==
* http://www.agpf.de/ZEGG.htm
* http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html
* http://www.zegg.de/
* http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZEGG
* http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/archiv/?dig=2004/07/24/a0258
* http://www.relinfo.ch/zegg/
*[http://www.psiram.com/doc/Br%C3%BCnzels%2C_Luther_-_16%C2%A0Jahre%C2%A0ZEGG%C2%ADsismus%2C_200711_%28199650%29.005267.pdf Luther Brünzels - 16 Jahre ZEGG-sismus, 11/2007 (pdf)]

==References==
<references/>

Main Page

2015-11-24T00:13:16Z

Halbmond:

__NOTOC__
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[[category:!Psiram]]

Reich Citizens' Movement

2015-11-22T17:56:26Z

Halbmond:

{{IN USE}}

A movement of German conspiracy theorists analoguous to groups like
* Freemen on the Land
* Sovereign Citizens
* Guardians of the Free Republic
* Redemption Movement
in various English speaking countries.

.

Reich Citizens' Movement

2015-11-22T17:43:53Z

Halbmond:

A movement of German conspiracy theorists analoguous to groups like
* Freemen on the Land
* Sovereign Citizens
* Guardians of the Free Republic
* Redemption Movement
in various English speaking countries.

.

Xavier Naidoo

2015-11-22T17:35:15Z

Halbmond: /* Controversy about Naidoo nomination to participate in Eurovision Song Contest */

'''Xavier Kurt Naidoo''' (born October 2, 1971 in Mannheim) is a German singer and radical Christian. He meanwhile pursues a solo career but used to be with the band ''Söhne Mannheims'' [Sons of Mannheim], of which he is also one of the founding members. He also is a conspiracy theorist and a supporter of the Reichsbürgerbewegung [Reich Citizens' Movement]. He is one of the few celebrities to publically represent such views, thus giving them a corresponding scope. Naidoo further stood out with homophobic comments, e.g. in his song titled ''Wo sind'' ["Where are], in which he characterises homosexuals as child molesters.<ref>Fabian Weissbarth: [http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-beim-aufmarsch-der-reichsbuerger_17100 Xavier Naidoo beim Aufmarsch der Reichsbürger] Zeit Online, 4. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Activities==
Naidoo represents views characteristic of the [[Reich Citizens' Movement]] which denies the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany as a state; they view Germany as a "limited liability company" [GmbH] and hence use the label of "BRD GmbH". He furthermore supports and spreads various conspiracy theories, like about 9/11 and about an alleged financial crisis.

He raised attention with the Reich Citizens' Movement for the first time in October 2011 with an interview in "ARD Morning Magazine" [ARD is a public German TV station], during which he said: ''"... we are not free, we are still occupied, Germany has no peace treaty and thus Germany is no genuine country"''.<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Djn6fE3vGWg Xavier Naidoo- Wir sind kein freies Land immer noch besetzt!] Youtube video of his appearance at ARD on October 24, 2011</ref>

In August 2014, Naidoo came forward with similar views at a spontaneous gig in Mannheim during a so-called "Peace Vigil" which are being organised by a broad right from Third Position supporters, Reich Citizens, to the extreme right, united e.g. in anti-Americanism and a rejection of mainstream media which they characterise as a "gutter press forced in line". This gig got covered in DER SPIEGEL by columnist Georg Diez who also addressed Naidoo's affinity to conspiracy theories, his hostility towards democracy, his nationalism, anti-Americanism, and anti-capitalism.<ref>Georg Diez: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-auf-montagsdemos-ueber-deutschland-und-paedophile-a-987539.html Der Kritiker: Vom Popstar zum Populisten Xavier Naidoo auf Montagsdemos über Deutschland und Pädophile] Spiegel Online, 22. August 2014</ref>

Naidoo gave further reason to suspect his proximity to extremist right Reich citizens with appearances at "revolutionary" events with Rüdiger Klasen (from Prussia Free State) and at a "Third Position" protest march together with Jürgen Elsässer on October 3, 2014.<ref>[http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/xavier-naidoo/saenger-spricht-vor-reichsbuergern-38000968.bild.html Xavier Naidoo spricht vor „Reichsbürgern“] Bild.de, 8. Oktober 2014</ref> These activities caused more media to report further similar appearances of Naidoo.<ref>[http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/xavier-naidoo-bei-verschwoerungsdemo Xavier Naidoo bei Verschwörungsdemo] B.Z., 3. Oktober 2014</ref> According to Naidoo, resp. according to his management, the contributions made during the protests were spontaneous and emerged on the basis of his ideal, Jesus, as he approaches people. Naidoo alleges he had no idea who the protesters were.<ref>Andreas Borcholte: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-pop-saenger-richtet-sich-an-verschwoerer-klientel-a-995909.html Xavier Naidoo: Jesus bei den Reichsbürgern] Spiegel Online, 7. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Legal action with Foundation Amadeu Antonio==
In July 2015, Naidoo applied for a cease-and-desist order against Amadeu Antonio Foundation<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeu_Antonio_Foundation </ref> with which the foundation was to agree to refrain from several statements published in an article on a German-language indymedia project [https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/148498 "Xavier Naidoo: Telegramm für X oder wie bringe ich Reichsbürger-Inhalte ins Fernsehen"].<ref>[https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/aktuelles/2015/xavier-naidoo-und-amadeu-antonio-stiftung-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich-vor-gericht/ Xavier Naidoo und die Amadeu Antonio Stiftung einigten sich auf Vergleich vor Gericht]</ref> Apparently the Foundation did not sign the declaration.

In July 2015, Naidoo pursued further legal action against the Foundation in front of Mannheim district court, presumably refering to a presently still non-final judgement of a Munich court in a lawsuit instituted by populist, editor, and Third Position activist Jürgen Elsässer. Previously, the Foundation had refused to sign the declaration which covered several passages in the text, particularly these:
:''„On October 3rd, Mannheim soul singer Xavier Naidoo, at a protest of Reich Citizens, called the audience to jointly overturn the system.“''

As far as this aspect is concerned, the Court did not follow the author and the Foundation in their argumentation that Reich Citizens were spreading this analogously, so that it was not just an interpretation by author and Foundation, but in fact the interpretation given by Reich Citizens themselves. The Court hinted it was going to view this as a wrongful statement of fact as it was unable to interprete Naidoo's statements accordingly. Had it come to a verdict, the court most probably would have followed Naidoo's petition.

:''„Five years after Naidoo told members of the Federal Parliament "Get out of Reichstag", he supported a protest in front of Berlin Reichstag on the German national holiday - together with former National Democratic cadre Rüdiger Klasen who has a criminal record, Klasen's group "Staatenlos" [stateless], as well as with "members of government" of fantasy state "Prussia Free State".“''

This view was shared by the Court, and the chief judge explained Naidoo in depth that he of course did promote the protest in its outreach. Had it come to a verdict, the court would have decided in favour of author Roland Sieber and Antonio-Amadeu-Foundation.

:''„There was another appeal to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government.“''

This sentence was not part of the original article, in which the author instead described that there had been appeals among the social environment of the protest to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government. This is in accordance with facts. During a usual editorial revision, the original rather long sentence was split into two sentences which caused the statement Naidoo incriminated. In this respect, the court also followed his petition, therefore author and Foundation were interested in an out-of-court settlement.<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] auf indymedia.org</ref>

Foundation and author refrain from the sentence: ''"Someone spreading songlines as Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'Alles kann besser werden' [All can get better], is probably an anti-semite"''. The lyrics themselves may still be characterised as anti-semitic. An article published in the internet provides a very pointed comment:

:''"Thus every one of you may legally spread the comment "Who, like Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'All can get better', employs such lines in his lyrics, is probably to be regarded as an anti-semite" - just Foundation Amadeu Antonio and the author may not, due to the "voluntary" out-of-court settlement with Xavier Naidoo, so that Naidoo agreed to a favourable arrangement of court fees. Ergo the settlement has been brought about by Naidoo using financial pressure."''<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] at indymedia.org</ref>

==Controversy about Naidoo nomination to participate in Eurovision Song Contest==
On November 19, 2015, public TV station ARD announced their decision to have Xavier Naidoo represent Germany at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Sweden. Contrary to most recent procedures, the audience would not be required to vote in an artist from a number of performers, but only be able to make a decision regarding the actual song. Since Naidoo's political and Christian fundamentalist views have been discussed publically for several years as of now, this decision raised some fierce opposition among the audience and caustic comments published via Twitter and in media comment sections ("Deutsches Reich - zero points"<ref>http://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/eurovision-song-contest-xavier-naidoo-beim-esc-ist-ein-schlechter-scherz-1.2744477 </ref>). Commenters e.g. wondered how Naidoo could convince himself to represent a country which, according to his views, does not exist. Others pointed to the fact that ARD's decision will estrange the contest's most loyal fans, the LBGT community, because of Naidoo's homophobic notions. By November 20, there were already two online petitions against the choice of Naidoo to represent Germany at the ESC. On November 21, the nomination was withdrawn by the TV station.

==Special Awards==
In 2014, Naidoo received an award for his views and activities as a conspiracy theorist: the satirical "Das Goldene Brett" [Golden Board; the original term implies a substantial amount of stupidity in a nominee resp. a decorated person].<ref>[http://derstandard.at/2000008670611/Xavier-Naidoo-als-Verschwoerungstheoretiker-geehrt Xavier Naidoo als Verschwörungstheoretiker "geehrt". derStandard.at, 26. November 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.hna.de/leute/xavier-naidoo-preis-das-goldene-brett-2014-fuer-abstruse-theorien-zr-4486611.html Naidoo wird für abstruse Theorien ausgezeichnet. Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine HNA.de, 27. November 2014]</ref> The prize is awarded by a large German-language sceptics' organisation who nominated Naidoo for spreading the most prizeworthy hogwash in the field of conspiracy theories. His nomination was also based on the fact that Naidoo, due to his publicity, acts as a multiplyer introducing a wider audience to these theories.

In 2015, Naidoo was bestowed with another satirical award for his role in the Reich Citizens' Movement. "Der Goldene Aluhut" [Golden Tinfoil Hat] appreciates the most influential proponents of conspiracy theories.

==Quotes==
# "Before I do something good for some animals or foreign citizens, I prefer doing something for Mannheim. I am a racist, although regardless of skin colour."
# "No Christian is allowed to ever date the day of the apocalypse. It has been discovered, though, that Armageddon started in 1992. I'm convinced it did. For this was the year when I first started to read the bible."
# "Let me explain what I can read from the bible: America will perish. Not just America. Frankfurt, too, is Babylon, and London and Tokyo. Babylon is everywhere. But America and Tokyo are right on the top of the hit-list. I've got my knowledge. I see myself as someone whose mission it is to say such things. It's not my message, it's God's message. It's not my seed. I am just the servant applying it. I simply want to achieve one thing: that nobody will be able to pretend they did not know."
# "The trees don't die from my Benz or your Benz. How can we dare to claim we're destroying the earth? That's never going to happen. Earth would be in this shape anyway, because we are in this shape. Even the automobile gets described in the bible. There are several passages which describe the cherubim. For me, these angelic creatures are the automobiles."<ref>All quotes from a 1999 interiew with Musikexpress: http://www.musikexpress.de/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe-150829/ </ref>

==Articles in newspapers and online==
*[http://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article133167852/Xavier-Naidoo-der-Prophet-des-rechten-Glaubens.html Xavier Naidoo: Der Prophet des rechten Glaubens. Welt-Online, 12. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.focus.de/kultur/nach-fragwuerdigem-auftritt-saenger-xavier-naidoo-missionar-auf-abwegen_id_4196199.html Jetzt lässt sogar seine eigene Popakademie Xavier Naidoo rechts liegen. Focus-Online. 11. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.ksta.de/kultur/auftritt-vor-rechtspopulisten-xavier-naidoo-im-groessenwahn,15189520,28704474.html Xavier Naidoo im Größenwahn. Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 10. Oktober 2014]
*[http://mobil.bunte.de/musik/xavier-naidoo-dreht-er-jetzt-voellig-ab-105520.html XAVIER NAIDOO - Dreht er jetzt völlig ab? Bunte.de, 13. Oktober 2014]
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-spricht-bei-den-reichsburgern-in-berlin
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/11/was-reichsburger-im-original-so-von-sich-geben/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/21/xavier-naidoo-will-kein-antisemit-und-kein-reichsburger-sein-und-zieht-in-mannheim-vor-gericht/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/28/udo-lindenberg-xavier-naidoo-singt-nicht-bei-soli-konzert-fur-fluchtlinge-in-berlin/
*http://www.musikexpress.de/fundstuecke/article627328/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe.html
*http://www.vice.com/de/read/die-langsame-selbstdemontage-des-xavier-naidoo-montagsdemos-781
*http://www.presseportal.de/pm/69086/3181577

{{OtherLang|ge=Xavier Naidoo|en=Xavier Naidoo}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Naidoo, Xavier}}

[[category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Xavier Naidoo

2015-11-22T16:58:08Z

Halbmond: /* Controversy about Naidoo nomination to participate in Eurovision Song Contest */

'''Xavier Kurt Naidoo''' (born October 2, 1971 in Mannheim) is a German singer and radical Christian. He meanwhile pursues a solo career but used to be with the band ''Söhne Mannheims'' [Sons of Mannheim], of which he is also one of the founding members. He also is a conspiracy theorist and a supporter of the Reichsbürgerbewegung [Reich Citizens' Movement]. He is one of the few celebrities to publically represent such views, thus giving them a corresponding scope. Naidoo further stood out with homophobic comments, e.g. in his song titled ''Wo sind'' ["Where are], in which he characterises homosexuals as child molesters.<ref>Fabian Weissbarth: [http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-beim-aufmarsch-der-reichsbuerger_17100 Xavier Naidoo beim Aufmarsch der Reichsbürger] Zeit Online, 4. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Activities==
Naidoo represents views characteristic of the Reich Citizens' Movement which denies the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany as a state; they view Germany as a "limited liability company" [GmbH] and hence use the label of "BRD GmbH". He furthermore supports and spreads various conspiracy theories, like about 9/11 and about an alleged financial crisis.

He raised attention with the Reich Citizens' Movement for the first time in October 2011 with an interview in "ARD Morning Magazine" [ARD is a public German TV station], during which he said: ''"... we are not free, we are still occupied, Germany has no peace treaty and thus Germany is no genuine country"''.<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Djn6fE3vGWg Xavier Naidoo- Wir sind kein freies Land immer noch besetzt!] Youtube video of his appearance at ARD on October 24, 2011</ref>

In August 2014, Naidoo came forward with similar views at a spontaneous gig in Mannheim during a so-called "Peace Vigil" which are being organised by a broad right from Third Position supporters, Reich Citizens, to the extreme right, united e.g. in anti-Americanism and a rejection of mainstream media which they characterise as a "gutter press forced in line". This gig got covered in DER SPIEGEL by columnist Georg Diez who also addressed Naidoo's affinity to conspiracy theories, his hostility towards democracy, his nationalism, anti-Americanism, and anti-capitalism.<ref>Georg Diez: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-auf-montagsdemos-ueber-deutschland-und-paedophile-a-987539.html Der Kritiker: Vom Popstar zum Populisten Xavier Naidoo auf Montagsdemos über Deutschland und Pädophile] Spiegel Online, 22. August 2014</ref>

Naidoo gave further reason to suspect his proximity to extremist right Reich citizens with appearances at "revolutionary" events with Rüdiger Klasen (from Prussia Free State) and at a "Third Position" protest march together with Jürgen Elsässer on October 3, 2014.<ref>[http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/xavier-naidoo/saenger-spricht-vor-reichsbuergern-38000968.bild.html Xavier Naidoo spricht vor „Reichsbürgern“] Bild.de, 8. Oktober 2014</ref> These activities caused more media to report further similar appearances of Naidoo.<ref>[http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/xavier-naidoo-bei-verschwoerungsdemo Xavier Naidoo bei Verschwörungsdemo] B.Z., 3. Oktober 2014</ref> According to Naidoo, resp. according to his management, the contributions made during the protests were spontaneous and emerged on the basis of his ideal, Jesus, as he approaches people. Naidoo alleges he had no idea who the protesters were.<ref>Andreas Borcholte: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-pop-saenger-richtet-sich-an-verschwoerer-klientel-a-995909.html Xavier Naidoo: Jesus bei den Reichsbürgern] Spiegel Online, 7. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Legal action with Foundation Amadeu Antonio==
In July 2015, Naidoo applied for a cease-and-desist order against Amadeu Antonio Foundation<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeu_Antonio_Foundation </ref> with which the foundation was to agree to refrain from several statements published in an article on a German-language indymedia project [https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/148498 "Xavier Naidoo: Telegramm für X oder wie bringe ich Reichsbürger-Inhalte ins Fernsehen"].<ref>[https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/aktuelles/2015/xavier-naidoo-und-amadeu-antonio-stiftung-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich-vor-gericht/ Xavier Naidoo und die Amadeu Antonio Stiftung einigten sich auf Vergleich vor Gericht]</ref> Apparently the Foundation did not sign the declaration.

In July 2015, Naidoo pursued further legal action against the Foundation in front of Mannheim district court, presumably refering to a presently still non-final judgement of a Munich court in a lawsuit instituted by populist, editor, and Third Position activist Jürgen Elsässer. Previously, the Foundation had refused to sign the declaration which covered several passages in the text, particularly these:
:''„On October 3rd, Mannheim soul singer Xavier Naidoo, at a protest of Reich Citizens, called the audience to jointly overturn the system.“''

As far as this aspect is concerned, the Court did not follow the author and the Foundation in their argumentation that Reich Citizens were spreading this analogously, so that it was not just an interpretation by author and Foundation, but in fact the interpretation given by Reich Citizens themselves. The Court hinted it was going to view this as a wrongful statement of fact as it was unable to interprete Naidoo's statements accordingly. Had it come to a verdict, the court most probably would have followed Naidoo's petition.

:''„Five years after Naidoo told members of the Federal Parliament "Get out of Reichstag", he supported a protest in front of Berlin Reichstag on the German national holiday - together with former National Democratic cadre Rüdiger Klasen who has a criminal record, Klasen's group "Staatenlos" [stateless], as well as with "members of government" of fantasy state "Prussia Free State".“''

This view was shared by the Court, and the chief judge explained Naidoo in depth that he of course did promote the protest in its outreach. Had it come to a verdict, the court would have decided in favour of author Roland Sieber and Antonio-Amadeu-Foundation.

:''„There was another appeal to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government.“''

This sentence was not part of the original article, in which the author instead described that there had been appeals among the social environment of the protest to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government. This is in accordance with facts. During a usual editorial revision, the original rather long sentence was split into two sentences which caused the statement Naidoo incriminated. In this respect, the court also followed his petition, therefore author and Foundation were interested in an out-of-court settlement.<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] auf indymedia.org</ref>

Foundation and author refrain from the sentence: ''"Someone spreading songlines as Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'Alles kann besser werden' [All can get better], is probably an anti-semite"''. The lyrics themselves may still be characterised as anti-semitic. An article published in the internet provides a very pointed comment:

:''"Thus every one of you may legally spread the comment "Who, like Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'All can get better', employs such lines in his lyrics, is probably to be regarded as an anti-semite" - just Foundation Amadeu Antonio and the author may not, due to the "voluntary" out-of-court settlement with Xavier Naidoo, so that Naidoo agreed to a favourable arrangement of court fees. Ergo the settlement has been brought about by Naidoo using financial pressure."''<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] at indymedia.org</ref>

==Controversy about Naidoo nomination to participate in Eurovision Song Contest==
On November 19, 2015, public TV station ARD announced their decision to have Xavier Naidoo represent Germany at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Sweden. Contrary to most recent procedures, the audience would not be required to vote in an artist from a number of performers, but only be able to make a decision regarding the actual song. Since Naidoo's political and Christian fundamentalist views have been discussed publically for several years as of now, this decision raised some fierce opposition among the audience and caustic comments published via Twitter and in media comment sections ("Deutsches Reich - zero points"<ref> </ref>). Commenters e.g. wondered how Naidoo could convince himself to represent a country which, according to his views, does not exist. Others pointed to the fact that ARD's decision will estrange the contest's most loyal fans, the LBGT community, because of Naidoo's homophobic notions. By November 20, there were already two online petitions against the choice of Naidoo to represent Germany at the ESC. On November 21, the nomination was withdrawn by the TV station.

==Special Awards==
In 2014, Naidoo received an award for his views and activities as a conspiracy theorist: the satirical "Das Goldene Brett" [Golden Board; the original term implies a substantial amount of stupidity in a nominee resp. a decorated person].<ref>[http://derstandard.at/2000008670611/Xavier-Naidoo-als-Verschwoerungstheoretiker-geehrt Xavier Naidoo als Verschwörungstheoretiker "geehrt". derStandard.at, 26. November 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.hna.de/leute/xavier-naidoo-preis-das-goldene-brett-2014-fuer-abstruse-theorien-zr-4486611.html Naidoo wird für abstruse Theorien ausgezeichnet. Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine HNA.de, 27. November 2014]</ref> The prize is awarded by a large German-language sceptics' organisation who nominated Naidoo for spreading the most prizeworthy hogwash in the field of conspiracy theories. His nomination was also based on the fact that Naidoo, due to his publicity, acts as a multiplyer introducing a wider audience to these theories.

In 2015, Naidoo was bestowed with another satirical award for his role in the Reich Citizens' Movement. "Der Goldene Aluhut" [Golden Tinfoil Hat] appreciates the most influential proponents of conspiracy theories.

==Quotes==
# "Before I do something good for some animals or foreign citizens, I prefer doing something for Mannheim. I am a racist, although regardless of skin colour."
# "No Christian is allowed to ever date the day of the apocalypse. It has been discovered, though, that Armageddon started in 1992. I'm convinced it did. For this was the year when I first started to read the bible."
# "Let me explain what I can read from the bible: America will perish. Not just America. Frankfurt, too, is Babylon, and London and Tokyo. Babylon is everywhere. But America and Tokyo are right on the top of the hit-list. I've got my knowledge. I see myself as someone whose mission it is to say such things. It's not my message, it's God's message. It's not my seed. I am just the servant applying it. I simply want to achieve one thing: that nobody will be able to pretend they did not know."
# "The trees don't die from my Benz or your Benz. How can we dare to claim we're destroying the earth? That's never going to happen. Earth would be in this shape anyway, because we are in this shape. Even the automobile gets described in the bible. There are several passages which describe the cherubim. For me, these angelic creatures are the automobiles."<ref>All quotes from a 1999 interiew with Musikexpress: http://www.musikexpress.de/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe-150829/ </ref>

==Articles in newspapers and online==
*[http://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article133167852/Xavier-Naidoo-der-Prophet-des-rechten-Glaubens.html Xavier Naidoo: Der Prophet des rechten Glaubens. Welt-Online, 12. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.focus.de/kultur/nach-fragwuerdigem-auftritt-saenger-xavier-naidoo-missionar-auf-abwegen_id_4196199.html Jetzt lässt sogar seine eigene Popakademie Xavier Naidoo rechts liegen. Focus-Online. 11. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.ksta.de/kultur/auftritt-vor-rechtspopulisten-xavier-naidoo-im-groessenwahn,15189520,28704474.html Xavier Naidoo im Größenwahn. Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 10. Oktober 2014]
*[http://mobil.bunte.de/musik/xavier-naidoo-dreht-er-jetzt-voellig-ab-105520.html XAVIER NAIDOO - Dreht er jetzt völlig ab? Bunte.de, 13. Oktober 2014]
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-spricht-bei-den-reichsburgern-in-berlin
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/11/was-reichsburger-im-original-so-von-sich-geben/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/21/xavier-naidoo-will-kein-antisemit-und-kein-reichsburger-sein-und-zieht-in-mannheim-vor-gericht/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/28/udo-lindenberg-xavier-naidoo-singt-nicht-bei-soli-konzert-fur-fluchtlinge-in-berlin/
*http://www.musikexpress.de/fundstuecke/article627328/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe.html
*http://www.vice.com/de/read/die-langsame-selbstdemontage-des-xavier-naidoo-montagsdemos-781
*http://www.presseportal.de/pm/69086/3181577

{{OtherLang|ge=Xavier Naidoo|en=Xavier Naidoo}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Naidoo, Xavier}}

[[category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Xavier Naidoo

2015-11-22T00:12:06Z

Halbmond: /* Articles in newspapers and online */

'''Xavier Kurt Naidoo''' (born October 2, 1971 in Mannheim) is a German singer and radical Christian. He meanwhile pursues a solo career but used to be with the band ''Söhne Mannheims'' [Sons of Mannheim], of which he is also one of the founding members. He also is a conspiracy theorist and a supporter of the Reichsbürgerbewegung [Reich Citizens' Movement]. He is one of the few celebrities to publically represent such views, thus giving them a corresponding scope. Naidoo further stood out with homophobic comments, e.g. in his song titled ''Wo sind'' ["Where are], in which he characterises homosexuals as child molesters.<ref>Fabian Weissbarth: [http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-beim-aufmarsch-der-reichsbuerger_17100 Xavier Naidoo beim Aufmarsch der Reichsbürger] Zeit Online, 4. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Activities==
Naidoo represents views characteristic of the Reich Citizens' Movement which denies the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany as a state; they view Germany as a "limited liability company" [GmbH] and hence use the label of "BRD GmbH". He furthermore supports and spreads various conspiracy theories, like about 9/11 and about an alleged financial crisis.

He raised attention with the Reich Citizens' Movement for the first time in October 2011 with an interview in "ARD Morning Magazine" [ARD is a public German TV station], during which he said: ''"... we are not free, we are still occupied, Germany has no peace treaty and thus Germany is no genuine country"''.<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Djn6fE3vGWg Xavier Naidoo- Wir sind kein freies Land immer noch besetzt!] Youtube video of his appearance at ARD on October 24, 2011</ref>

In August 2014, Naidoo came forward with similar views at a spontaneous gig in Mannheim during a so-called "Peace Vigil" which are being organised by a broad right from Third Position supporters, Reich Citizens, to the extreme right, united e.g. in anti-Americanism and a rejection of mainstream media which they characterise as a "gutter press forced in line". This gig got covered in DER SPIEGEL by columnist Georg Diez who also addressed Naidoo's affinity to conspiracy theories, his hostility towards democracy, his nationalism, anti-Americanism, and anti-capitalism.<ref>Georg Diez: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-auf-montagsdemos-ueber-deutschland-und-paedophile-a-987539.html Der Kritiker: Vom Popstar zum Populisten Xavier Naidoo auf Montagsdemos über Deutschland und Pädophile] Spiegel Online, 22. August 2014</ref>

Naidoo gave further reason to suspect his proximity to extremist right Reich citizens with appearances at "revolutionary" events with Rüdiger Klasen (from Prussia Free State) and at a "Third Position" protest march together with Jürgen Elsässer on October 3, 2014.<ref>[http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/xavier-naidoo/saenger-spricht-vor-reichsbuergern-38000968.bild.html Xavier Naidoo spricht vor „Reichsbürgern“] Bild.de, 8. Oktober 2014</ref> These activities caused more media to report further similar appearances of Naidoo.<ref>[http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/xavier-naidoo-bei-verschwoerungsdemo Xavier Naidoo bei Verschwörungsdemo] B.Z., 3. Oktober 2014</ref> According to Naidoo, resp. according to his management, the contributions made during the protests were spontaneous and emerged on the basis of his ideal, Jesus, as he approaches people. Naidoo alleges he had no idea who the protesters were.<ref>Andreas Borcholte: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-pop-saenger-richtet-sich-an-verschwoerer-klientel-a-995909.html Xavier Naidoo: Jesus bei den Reichsbürgern] Spiegel Online, 7. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Legal action with Foundation Amadeu Antonio==
In July 2015, Naidoo applied for a cease-and-desist order against Amadeu Antonio Foundation<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeu_Antonio_Foundation </ref> with which the foundation was to agree to refrain from several statements published in an article on a German-language indymedia project [https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/148498 "Xavier Naidoo: Telegramm für X oder wie bringe ich Reichsbürger-Inhalte ins Fernsehen"].<ref>[https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/aktuelles/2015/xavier-naidoo-und-amadeu-antonio-stiftung-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich-vor-gericht/ Xavier Naidoo und die Amadeu Antonio Stiftung einigten sich auf Vergleich vor Gericht]</ref> Apparently the Foundation did not sign the declaration.

In July 2015, Naidoo pursued further legal action against the Foundation in front of Mannheim district court, presumably refering to a presently still non-final judgement of a Munich court in a lawsuit instituted by populist, editor, and Third Position activist Jürgen Elsässer. Previously, the Foundation had refused to sign the declaration which covered several passages in the text, particularly these:
:''„On October 3rd, Mannheim soul singer Xavier Naidoo, at a protest of Reich Citizens, called the audience to jointly overturn the system.“''

As far as this aspect is concerned, the Court did not follow the author and the Foundation in their argumentation that Reich Citizens were spreading this analogously, so that it was not just an interpretation by author and Foundation, but in fact the interpretation given by Reich Citizens themselves. The Court hinted it was going to view this as a wrongful statement of fact as it was unable to interprete Naidoo's statements accordingly. Had it come to a verdict, the court most probably would have followed Naidoo's petition.

:''„Five years after Naidoo told members of the Federal Parliament "Get out of Reichstag", he supported a protest in front of Berlin Reichstag on the German national holiday - together with former National Democratic cadre Rüdiger Klasen who has a criminal record, Klasen's group "Staatenlos" [stateless], as well as with "members of government" of fantasy state "Prussia Free State".“''

This view was shared by the Court, and the chief judge explained Naidoo in depth that he of course did promote the protest in its outreach. Had it come to a verdict, the court would have decided in favour of author Roland Sieber and Antonio-Amadeu-Foundation.

:''„There was another appeal to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government.“''

This sentence was not part of the original article, in which the author instead described that there had been appeals among the social environment of the protest to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government. This is in accordance with facts. During a usual editorial revision, the original rather long sentence was split into two sentences which caused the statement Naidoo incriminated. In this respect, the court also followed his petition, therefore author and Foundation were interested in an out-of-court settlement.<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] auf indymedia.org</ref>

Foundation and author refrain from the sentence: ''"Someone spreading songlines as Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'Alles kann besser werden' [All can get better], is probably an anti-semite"''. The lyrics themselves may still be characterised as anti-semitic. An article published in the internet provides a very pointed comment:

:''"Thus every one of you may legally spread the comment "Who, like Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'All can get better', employs such lines in his lyrics, is probably to be regarded as an anti-semite" - just Foundation Amadeu Antonio and the author may not, due to the "voluntary" out-of-court settlement with Xavier Naidoo, so that Naidoo agreed to a favourable arrangement of court fees. Ergo the settlement has been brought about by Naidoo using financial pressure."''<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] at indymedia.org</ref>

==Controversy about Naidoo nomination to participate in Eurovision Song Contest==
On November 19, 2015, public TV station ARD announced their decision to have Xavier Naidoo represent Germany at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Sweden. Contrary to most recent procedures, the audience will not be able to vote in an artist from a number of performers, but will only be able to make a decision regarding the actual song. Since Naidoo's political and Christian fundamentalist views have been discussed publically for several years as of now, this decision raised some fierce opposition among the audience and caustic comments published via Twitter and in media comment sections ("Deutsches Reich - zero points"<ref> </ref>). Commenters e.g. wonder how Naidoo could convince himself to represent a country which, according to his views, does not exist. Others point to the fact that ARD's decision will estrange the contest's most loyal fans, the LBGT community, because of Naidoo's homophobic notions. By November 20, there were already two online petitions against the choice of Naidoo to represent Germany at the ESC.

==Special Awards==
In 2014, Naidoo received an award for his views and activities as a conspiracy theorist: the satirical "Das Goldene Brett" [Golden Board; the original term implies a substantial amount of stupidity in a nominee resp. a decorated person].<ref>[http://derstandard.at/2000008670611/Xavier-Naidoo-als-Verschwoerungstheoretiker-geehrt Xavier Naidoo als Verschwörungstheoretiker "geehrt". derStandard.at, 26. November 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.hna.de/leute/xavier-naidoo-preis-das-goldene-brett-2014-fuer-abstruse-theorien-zr-4486611.html Naidoo wird für abstruse Theorien ausgezeichnet. Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine HNA.de, 27. November 2014]</ref> The prize is awarded by a large German-language sceptics' organisation who nominated Naidoo for spreading the most prizeworthy hogwash in the field of conspiracy theories. His nomination was also based on the fact that Naidoo, due to his publicity, acts as a multiplyer introducing a wider audience to these theories.

In 2015, Naidoo was bestowed with another satirical award for his role in the Reich Citizens' Movement. "Der Goldene Aluhut" [Golden Tinfoil Hat] appreciates the most influential proponents of conspiracy theories.

==Quotes==
# "Before I do something good for some animals or foreign citizens, I prefer doing something for Mannheim. I am a racist, although regardless of skin colour."
# "No Christian is allowed to ever date the day of the apocalypse. It has been discovered, though, that Armageddon started in 1992. I'm convinced it did. For this was the year when I first started to read the bible."
# "Let me explain what I can read from the bible: America will perish. Not just America. Frankfurt, too, is Babylon, and London and Tokyo. Babylon is everywhere. But America and Tokyo are right on the top of the hit-list. I've got my knowledge. I see myself as someone whose mission it is to say such things. It's not my message, it's God's message. It's not my seed. I am just the servant applying it. I simply want to achieve one thing: that nobody will be able to pretend they did not know."
# "The trees don't die from my Benz or your Benz. How can we dare to claim we're destroying the earth? That's never going to happen. Earth would be in this shape anyway, because we are in this shape. Even the automobile gets described in the bible. There are several passages which describe the cherubim. For me, these angelic creatures are the automobiles."<ref>All quotes from a 1999 interiew with Musikexpress: http://www.musikexpress.de/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe-150829/ </ref>

==Articles in newspapers and online==
*[http://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article133167852/Xavier-Naidoo-der-Prophet-des-rechten-Glaubens.html Xavier Naidoo: Der Prophet des rechten Glaubens. Welt-Online, 12. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.focus.de/kultur/nach-fragwuerdigem-auftritt-saenger-xavier-naidoo-missionar-auf-abwegen_id_4196199.html Jetzt lässt sogar seine eigene Popakademie Xavier Naidoo rechts liegen. Focus-Online. 11. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.ksta.de/kultur/auftritt-vor-rechtspopulisten-xavier-naidoo-im-groessenwahn,15189520,28704474.html Xavier Naidoo im Größenwahn. Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 10. Oktober 2014]
*[http://mobil.bunte.de/musik/xavier-naidoo-dreht-er-jetzt-voellig-ab-105520.html XAVIER NAIDOO - Dreht er jetzt völlig ab? Bunte.de, 13. Oktober 2014]
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-spricht-bei-den-reichsburgern-in-berlin
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/11/was-reichsburger-im-original-so-von-sich-geben/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/21/xavier-naidoo-will-kein-antisemit-und-kein-reichsburger-sein-und-zieht-in-mannheim-vor-gericht/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/28/udo-lindenberg-xavier-naidoo-singt-nicht-bei-soli-konzert-fur-fluchtlinge-in-berlin/
*http://www.musikexpress.de/fundstuecke/article627328/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe.html
*http://www.vice.com/de/read/die-langsame-selbstdemontage-des-xavier-naidoo-montagsdemos-781

{{OtherLang|ge=Xavier Naidoo|en=Xavier Naidoo}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Naidoo, Xavier}}

[[category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Xavier Naidoo

2015-11-21T13:56:58Z

Halbmond: /* Controversy about Naidoo nomination to partixipate in Eurovision Song Contest */

'''Xavier Kurt Naidoo''' (born October 2, 1971 in Mannheim) is a German singer and radical Christian. He meanwhile pursues a solo career but used to be with the band ''Söhne Mannheims'' [Sons of Mannheim], of which he is also one of the founding members. He also is a conspiracy theorist and a supporter of the Reichsbürgerbewegung [Reich Citizens' Movement]. He is one of the few celebrities to publically represent such views, thus giving them a corresponding scope. Naidoo further stood out with homophobic comments, e.g. in his song titled ''Wo sind'' ["Where are], in which he characterises homosexuals as child molesters.<ref>Fabian Weissbarth: [http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-beim-aufmarsch-der-reichsbuerger_17100 Xavier Naidoo beim Aufmarsch der Reichsbürger] Zeit Online, 4. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Activities==
Naidoo represents views characteristic of the Reich Citizens' Movement which denies the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany as a state; they view Germany as a "limited liability company" [GmbH] and hence use the label of "BRD GmbH". He furthermore supports and spreads various conspiracy theories, like about 9/11 and about an alleged financial crisis.

He raised attention with the Reich Citizens' Movement for the first time in October 2011 with an interview in "ARD Morning Magazine" [ARD is a public German TV station], during which he said: ''"... we are not free, we are still occupied, Germany has no peace treaty and thus Germany is no genuine country"''.<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Djn6fE3vGWg Xavier Naidoo- Wir sind kein freies Land immer noch besetzt!] Youtube video of his appearance at ARD on October 24, 2011</ref>

In August 2014, Naidoo came forward with similar views at a spontaneous gig in Mannheim during a so-called "Peace Vigil" which are being organised by a broad right from Third Position supporters, Reich Citizens, to the extreme right, united e.g. in anti-Americanism and a rejection of mainstream media which they characterise as a "gutter press forced in line". This gig got covered in DER SPIEGEL by columnist Georg Diez who also addressed Naidoo's affinity to conspiracy theories, his hostility towards democracy, his nationalism, anti-Americanism, and anti-capitalism.<ref>Georg Diez: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-auf-montagsdemos-ueber-deutschland-und-paedophile-a-987539.html Der Kritiker: Vom Popstar zum Populisten Xavier Naidoo auf Montagsdemos über Deutschland und Pädophile] Spiegel Online, 22. August 2014</ref>

Naidoo gave further reason to suspect his proximity to extremist right Reich citizens with appearances at "revolutionary" events with Rüdiger Klasen (from Prussia Free State) and at a "Third Position" protest march together with Jürgen Elsässer on October 3, 2014.<ref>[http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/xavier-naidoo/saenger-spricht-vor-reichsbuergern-38000968.bild.html Xavier Naidoo spricht vor „Reichsbürgern“] Bild.de, 8. Oktober 2014</ref> These activities caused more media to report further similar appearances of Naidoo.<ref>[http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/xavier-naidoo-bei-verschwoerungsdemo Xavier Naidoo bei Verschwörungsdemo] B.Z., 3. Oktober 2014</ref> According to Naidoo, resp. according to his management, the contributions made during the protests were spontaneous and emerged on the basis of his ideal, Jesus, as he approaches people. Naidoo alleges he had no idea who the protesters were.<ref>Andreas Borcholte: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-pop-saenger-richtet-sich-an-verschwoerer-klientel-a-995909.html Xavier Naidoo: Jesus bei den Reichsbürgern] Spiegel Online, 7. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Legal action with Foundation Amadeu Antonio==
In July 2015, Naidoo applied for a cease-and-desist order against Amadeu Antonio Foundation<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeu_Antonio_Foundation </ref> with which the foundation was to agree to refrain from several statements published in an article on a German-language indymedia project [https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/148498 "Xavier Naidoo: Telegramm für X oder wie bringe ich Reichsbürger-Inhalte ins Fernsehen"].<ref>[https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/aktuelles/2015/xavier-naidoo-und-amadeu-antonio-stiftung-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich-vor-gericht/ Xavier Naidoo und die Amadeu Antonio Stiftung einigten sich auf Vergleich vor Gericht]</ref> Apparently the Foundation did not sign the declaration.

In July 2015, Naidoo pursued further legal action against the Foundation in front of Mannheim district court, presumably refering to a presently still non-final judgement of a Munich court in a lawsuit instituted by populist, editor, and Third Position activist Jürgen Elsässer. Previously, the Foundation had refused to sign the declaration which covered several passages in the text, particularly these:
:''„On October 3rd, Mannheim soul singer Xavier Naidoo, at a protest of Reich Citizens, called the audience to jointly overturn the system.“''

As far as this aspect is concerned, the Court did not follow the author and the Foundation in their argumentation that Reich Citizens were spreading this analogously, so that it was not just an interpretation by author and Foundation, but in fact the interpretation given by Reich Citizens themselves. The Court hinted it was going to view this as a wrongful statement of fact as it was unable to interprete Naidoo's statements accordingly. Had it come to a verdict, the court most probably would have followed Naidoo's petition.

:''„Five years after Naidoo told members of the Federal Parliament "Get out of Reichstag", he supported a protest in front of Berlin Reichstag on the German national holiday - together with former National Democratic cadre Rüdiger Klasen who has a criminal record, Klasen's group "Staatenlos" [stateless], as well as with "members of government" of fantasy state "Prussia Free State".“''

This view was shared by the Court, and the chief judge explained Naidoo in depth that he of course did promote the protest in its outreach. Had it come to a verdict, the court would have decided in favour of author Roland Sieber and Antonio-Amadeu-Foundation.

:''„There was another appeal to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government.“''

This sentence was not part of the original article, in which the author instead described that there had been appeals among the social environment of the protest to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government. This is in accordance with facts. During a usual editorial revision, the original rather long sentence was split into two sentences which caused the statement Naidoo incriminated. In this respect, the court also followed his petition, therefore author and Foundation were interested in an out-of-court settlement.<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] auf indymedia.org</ref>

Foundation and author refrain from the sentence: ''"Someone spreading songlines as Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'Alles kann besser werden' [All can get better], is probably an anti-semite"''. The lyrics themselves may still be characterised as anti-semitic. An article published in the internet provides a very pointed comment:

:''"Thus every one of you may legally spread the comment "Who, like Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'All can get better', employs such lines in his lyrics, is probably to be regarded as an anti-semite" - just Foundation Amadeu Antonio and the author may not, due to the "voluntary" out-of-court settlement with Xavier Naidoo, so that Naidoo agreed to a favourable arrangement of court fees. Ergo the settlement has been brought about by Naidoo using financial pressure."''<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] at indymedia.org</ref>

==Controversy about Naidoo nomination to participate in Eurovision Song Contest==
On November 19, 2015, public TV station ARD announced their decision to have Xavier Naidoo represent Germany at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Sweden. Contrary to most recent procedures, the audience will not be able to vote in an artist from a number of performers, but will only be able to make a decision regarding the actual song. Since Naidoo's political and Christian fundamentalist views have been discussed publically for several years as of now, this decision raised some fierce opposition among the audience and caustic comments published via Twitter and in media comment sections ("Deutsches Reich - zero points"<ref> </ref>). Commenters e.g. wonder how Naidoo could convince himself to represent a country which, according to his views, does not exist. Others point to the fact that ARD's decision will estrange the contest's most loyal fans, the LBGT community, because of Naidoo's homophobic notions. By November 20, there were already two online petitions against the choice of Naidoo to represent Germany at the ESC.

==Special Awards==
In 2014, Naidoo received an award for his views and activities as a conspiracy theorist: the satirical "Das Goldene Brett" [Golden Board; the original term implies a substantial amount of stupidity in a nominee resp. a decorated person].<ref>[http://derstandard.at/2000008670611/Xavier-Naidoo-als-Verschwoerungstheoretiker-geehrt Xavier Naidoo als Verschwörungstheoretiker "geehrt". derStandard.at, 26. November 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.hna.de/leute/xavier-naidoo-preis-das-goldene-brett-2014-fuer-abstruse-theorien-zr-4486611.html Naidoo wird für abstruse Theorien ausgezeichnet. Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine HNA.de, 27. November 2014]</ref> The prize is awarded by a large German-language sceptics' organisation who nominated Naidoo for spreading the most prizeworthy hogwash in the field of conspiracy theories. His nomination was also based on the fact that Naidoo, due to his publicity, acts as a multiplyer introducing a wider audience to these theories.

In 2015, Naidoo was bestowed with another satirical award for his role in the Reich Citizens' Movement. "Der Goldene Aluhut" [Golden Tinfoil Hat] appreciates the most influential proponents of conspiracy theories.

==Quotes==
# "Before I do something good for some animals or foreign citizens, I prefer doing something for Mannheim. I am a racist, although regardless of skin colour."
# "No Christian is allowed to ever date the day of the apocalypse. It has been discovered, though, that Armageddon started in 1992. I'm convinced it did. For this was the year when I first started to read the bible."
# "Let me explain what I can read from the bible: America will perish. Not just America. Frankfurt, too, is Babylon, and London and Tokyo. Babylon is everywhere. But America and Tokyo are right on the top of the hit-list. I've got my knowledge. I see myself as someone whose mission it is to say such things. It's not my message, it's God's message. It's not my seed. I am just the servant applying it. I simply want to achieve one thing: that nobody will be able to pretend they did not know."
# "The trees don't die from my Benz or your Benz. How can we dare to claim we're destroying the earth? That's never going to happen. Earth would be in this shape anyway, because we are in this shape. Even the automobile gets described in the bible. There are several passages which describe the cherubim. For me, these angelic creatures are the automobiles."<ref>All quotes from a 1999 interiew with Musikexpress: http://www.musikexpress.de/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe-150829/ </ref>

==Articles in newspapers and online==
*[http://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article133167852/Xavier-Naidoo-der-Prophet-des-rechten-Glaubens.html Xavier Naidoo: Der Prophet des rechten Glaubens. Welt-Online, 12. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.focus.de/kultur/nach-fragwuerdigem-auftritt-saenger-xavier-naidoo-missionar-auf-abwegen_id_4196199.html Jetzt lässt sogar seine eigene Popakademie Xavier Naidoo rechts liegen. Focus-Online. 11. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.ksta.de/kultur/auftritt-vor-rechtspopulisten-xavier-naidoo-im-groessenwahn,15189520,28704474.html Xavier Naidoo im Größenwahn. Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 10. Oktober 2014]
*[http://mobil.bunte.de/musik/xavier-naidoo-dreht-er-jetzt-voellig-ab-105520.html XAVIER NAIDOO - Dreht er jetzt völlig ab? Bunte.de, 13. Oktober 2014]
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-spricht-bei-den-reichsburgern-in-berlin
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/11/was-reichsburger-im-original-so-von-sich-geben/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/21/xavier-naidoo-will-kein-antisemit-und-kein-reichsburger-sein-und-zieht-in-mannheim-vor-gericht/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/28/udo-lindenberg-xavier-naidoo-singt-nicht-bei-soli-konzert-fur-fluchtlinge-in-berlin/
*http://www.musikexpress.de/fundstuecke/article627328/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe.html
*http://www.vice.com/de/read/die-langsame-selbstdemontage-des-xavier-naidoo-montagsdemos-781

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Naidoo, Xavier}}

[[category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Xavier Naidoo

2015-11-21T13:56:07Z

Halbmond: Created page with "'''Xavier Kurt Naidoo''' (born October 2, 1971 in Mannheim) is a German singer and radical Christian. He meanwhile pursues a solo career but used to be with the band ''Söhne..."

'''Xavier Kurt Naidoo''' (born October 2, 1971 in Mannheim) is a German singer and radical Christian. He meanwhile pursues a solo career but used to be with the band ''Söhne Mannheims'' [Sons of Mannheim], of which he is also one of the founding members. He also is a conspiracy theorist and a supporter of the Reichsbürgerbewegung [Reich Citizens' Movement]. He is one of the few celebrities to publically represent such views, thus giving them a corresponding scope. Naidoo further stood out with homophobic comments, e.g. in his song titled ''Wo sind'' ["Where are], in which he characterises homosexuals as child molesters.<ref>Fabian Weissbarth: [http://blog.zeit.de/stoerungsmelder/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-beim-aufmarsch-der-reichsbuerger_17100 Xavier Naidoo beim Aufmarsch der Reichsbürger] Zeit Online, 4. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Activities==
Naidoo represents views characteristic of the Reich Citizens' Movement which denies the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany as a state; they view Germany as a "limited liability company" [GmbH] and hence use the label of "BRD GmbH". He furthermore supports and spreads various conspiracy theories, like about 9/11 and about an alleged financial crisis.

He raised attention with the Reich Citizens' Movement for the first time in October 2011 with an interview in "ARD Morning Magazine" [ARD is a public German TV station], during which he said: ''"... we are not free, we are still occupied, Germany has no peace treaty and thus Germany is no genuine country"''.<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Djn6fE3vGWg Xavier Naidoo- Wir sind kein freies Land immer noch besetzt!] Youtube video of his appearance at ARD on October 24, 2011</ref>

In August 2014, Naidoo came forward with similar views at a spontaneous gig in Mannheim during a so-called "Peace Vigil" which are being organised by a broad right from Third Position supporters, Reich Citizens, to the extreme right, united e.g. in anti-Americanism and a rejection of mainstream media which they characterise as a "gutter press forced in line". This gig got covered in DER SPIEGEL by columnist Georg Diez who also addressed Naidoo's affinity to conspiracy theories, his hostility towards democracy, his nationalism, anti-Americanism, and anti-capitalism.<ref>Georg Diez: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-auf-montagsdemos-ueber-deutschland-und-paedophile-a-987539.html Der Kritiker: Vom Popstar zum Populisten Xavier Naidoo auf Montagsdemos über Deutschland und Pädophile] Spiegel Online, 22. August 2014</ref>

Naidoo gave further reason to suspect his proximity to extremist right Reich citizens with appearances at "revolutionary" events with Rüdiger Klasen (from Prussia Free State) and at a "Third Position" protest march together with Jürgen Elsässer on October 3, 2014.<ref>[http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/xavier-naidoo/saenger-spricht-vor-reichsbuergern-38000968.bild.html Xavier Naidoo spricht vor „Reichsbürgern“] Bild.de, 8. Oktober 2014</ref> These activities caused more media to report further similar appearances of Naidoo.<ref>[http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/xavier-naidoo-bei-verschwoerungsdemo Xavier Naidoo bei Verschwörungsdemo] B.Z., 3. Oktober 2014</ref> According to Naidoo, resp. according to his management, the contributions made during the protests were spontaneous and emerged on the basis of his ideal, Jesus, as he approaches people. Naidoo alleges he had no idea who the protesters were.<ref>Andreas Borcholte: [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/xavier-naidoo-pop-saenger-richtet-sich-an-verschwoerer-klientel-a-995909.html Xavier Naidoo: Jesus bei den Reichsbürgern] Spiegel Online, 7. Oktober 2014</ref>

==Legal action with Foundation Amadeu Antonio==
In July 2015, Naidoo applied for a cease-and-desist order against Amadeu Antonio Foundation<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeu_Antonio_Foundation </ref> with which the foundation was to agree to refrain from several statements published in an article on a German-language indymedia project [https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/148498 "Xavier Naidoo: Telegramm für X oder wie bringe ich Reichsbürger-Inhalte ins Fernsehen"].<ref>[https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/aktuelles/2015/xavier-naidoo-und-amadeu-antonio-stiftung-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich-vor-gericht/ Xavier Naidoo und die Amadeu Antonio Stiftung einigten sich auf Vergleich vor Gericht]</ref> Apparently the Foundation did not sign the declaration.

In July 2015, Naidoo pursued further legal action against the Foundation in front of Mannheim district court, presumably refering to a presently still non-final judgement of a Munich court in a lawsuit instituted by populist, editor, and Third Position activist Jürgen Elsässer. Previously, the Foundation had refused to sign the declaration which covered several passages in the text, particularly these:
:''„On October 3rd, Mannheim soul singer Xavier Naidoo, at a protest of Reich Citizens, called the audience to jointly overturn the system.“''

As far as this aspect is concerned, the Court did not follow the author and the Foundation in their argumentation that Reich Citizens were spreading this analogously, so that it was not just an interpretation by author and Foundation, but in fact the interpretation given by Reich Citizens themselves. The Court hinted it was going to view this as a wrongful statement of fact as it was unable to interprete Naidoo's statements accordingly. Had it come to a verdict, the court most probably would have followed Naidoo's petition.

:''„Five years after Naidoo told members of the Federal Parliament "Get out of Reichstag", he supported a protest in front of Berlin Reichstag on the German national holiday - together with former National Democratic cadre Rüdiger Klasen who has a criminal record, Klasen's group "Staatenlos" [stateless], as well as with "members of government" of fantasy state "Prussia Free State".“''

This view was shared by the Court, and the chief judge explained Naidoo in depth that he of course did promote the protest in its outreach. Had it come to a verdict, the court would have decided in favour of author Roland Sieber and Antonio-Amadeu-Foundation.

:''„There was another appeal to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government.“''

This sentence was not part of the original article, in which the author instead described that there had been appeals among the social environment of the protest to storm Reichstag and violently overthrow the federal government. This is in accordance with facts. During a usual editorial revision, the original rather long sentence was split into two sentences which caused the statement Naidoo incriminated. In this respect, the court also followed his petition, therefore author and Foundation were interested in an out-of-court settlement.<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] auf indymedia.org</ref>

Foundation and author refrain from the sentence: ''"Someone spreading songlines as Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'Alles kann besser werden' [All can get better], is probably an anti-semite"''. The lyrics themselves may still be characterised as anti-semitic. An article published in the internet provides a very pointed comment:

:''"Thus every one of you may legally spread the comment "Who, like Xavier Naidoo does in his album 'All can get better', employs such lines in his lyrics, is probably to be regarded as an anti-semite" - just Foundation Amadeu Antonio and the author may not, due to the "voluntary" out-of-court settlement with Xavier Naidoo, so that Naidoo agreed to a favourable arrangement of court fees. Ergo the settlement has been brought about by Naidoo using financial pressure."''<ref>[http://de.indymedia.org/node/5619 Reichsbürgeraktivist Xavier Naidoo erpresst Medien und antifaschistische Stiftung] at indymedia.org</ref>

==Controversy about Naidoo nomination to partixipate in Eurovision Song Contest==
On November 19, 2015, public TV station ARD announced their decision to have Xavier Naidoo represent Germany at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Sweden. Contrary to most recent procedures, the audience will not be able to vote in an artist from a number of performers, but will only be able to make a decision regarding the actual song. Since Naidoo's political and Christian fundamentalist views have been discussed publically for several years as of now, this decision raised some fierce opposition among the audience and caustic comments published via Twitter and in media comment sections ("Deutsches Reich - zero points"<ref> </ref>). Commenters e.g. wonder how Naidoo could convince himself to represent a country which, according to his views, does not exist. Others point to the fact that ARD's decision will estrange the contest's most loyal fans, the LBGT community, because of Naidoo's homophobic notions. By November 20, there were already two online petitions against the choice of Naidoo to represent Germany at the ESC.

==Special Awards==
In 2014, Naidoo received an award for his views and activities as a conspiracy theorist: the satirical "Das Goldene Brett" [Golden Board; the original term implies a substantial amount of stupidity in a nominee resp. a decorated person].<ref>[http://derstandard.at/2000008670611/Xavier-Naidoo-als-Verschwoerungstheoretiker-geehrt Xavier Naidoo als Verschwörungstheoretiker "geehrt". derStandard.at, 26. November 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.hna.de/leute/xavier-naidoo-preis-das-goldene-brett-2014-fuer-abstruse-theorien-zr-4486611.html Naidoo wird für abstruse Theorien ausgezeichnet. Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine HNA.de, 27. November 2014]</ref> The prize is awarded by a large German-language sceptics' organisation who nominated Naidoo for spreading the most prizeworthy hogwash in the field of conspiracy theories. His nomination was also based on the fact that Naidoo, due to his publicity, acts as a multiplyer introducing a wider audience to these theories.

In 2015, Naidoo was bestowed with another satirical award for his role in the Reich Citizens' Movement. "Der Goldene Aluhut" [Golden Tinfoil Hat] appreciates the most influential proponents of conspiracy theories.

==Quotes==
# "Before I do something good for some animals or foreign citizens, I prefer doing something for Mannheim. I am a racist, although regardless of skin colour."
# "No Christian is allowed to ever date the day of the apocalypse. It has been discovered, though, that Armageddon started in 1992. I'm convinced it did. For this was the year when I first started to read the bible."
# "Let me explain what I can read from the bible: America will perish. Not just America. Frankfurt, too, is Babylon, and London and Tokyo. Babylon is everywhere. But America and Tokyo are right on the top of the hit-list. I've got my knowledge. I see myself as someone whose mission it is to say such things. It's not my message, it's God's message. It's not my seed. I am just the servant applying it. I simply want to achieve one thing: that nobody will be able to pretend they did not know."
# "The trees don't die from my Benz or your Benz. How can we dare to claim we're destroying the earth? That's never going to happen. Earth would be in this shape anyway, because we are in this shape. Even the automobile gets described in the bible. There are several passages which describe the cherubim. For me, these angelic creatures are the automobiles."<ref>All quotes from a 1999 interiew with Musikexpress: http://www.musikexpress.de/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe-150829/ </ref>

==Articles in newspapers and online==
*[http://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article133167852/Xavier-Naidoo-der-Prophet-des-rechten-Glaubens.html Xavier Naidoo: Der Prophet des rechten Glaubens. Welt-Online, 12. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.focus.de/kultur/nach-fragwuerdigem-auftritt-saenger-xavier-naidoo-missionar-auf-abwegen_id_4196199.html Jetzt lässt sogar seine eigene Popakademie Xavier Naidoo rechts liegen. Focus-Online. 11. Oktober 2014]
*[http://www.ksta.de/kultur/auftritt-vor-rechtspopulisten-xavier-naidoo-im-groessenwahn,15189520,28704474.html Xavier Naidoo im Größenwahn. Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 10. Oktober 2014]
*[http://mobil.bunte.de/musik/xavier-naidoo-dreht-er-jetzt-voellig-ab-105520.html XAVIER NAIDOO - Dreht er jetzt völlig ab? Bunte.de, 13. Oktober 2014]
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/04/xavier-naidoo-spricht-bei-den-reichsburgern-in-berlin
*http://blog.gwup.net/2014/10/11/was-reichsburger-im-original-so-von-sich-geben/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/21/xavier-naidoo-will-kein-antisemit-und-kein-reichsburger-sein-und-zieht-in-mannheim-vor-gericht/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2015/08/28/udo-lindenberg-xavier-naidoo-singt-nicht-bei-soli-konzert-fur-fluchtlinge-in-berlin/
*http://www.musikexpress.de/fundstuecke/article627328/xavier-naidoo-im-interview-ich-bin-ein-rassist-aber-ohne-ansehen-der-hautfarbe.html
*http://www.vice.com/de/read/die-langsame-selbstdemontage-des-xavier-naidoo-montagsdemos-781

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Naidoo, Xavier}}

[[category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Deer Tribe

2015-11-18T17:40:35Z

Halbmond: /* Legend exposed */

The '''Deer Tribe''', or Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DT), claims the status of an ethnic group with its name, but it is an artificial association with cult character. Persons willing to join do not need to prove a certain ethnic affiliation or descendence, but must rather submit to a system of courses. Deer Tribe sells a system of courses building on each other, in which students eventually will advance to higher grades of initiation; these courses will incur a fee.

Since Harley Reagan's death in 2013, the enterprise is run by his second wife Dianne Reagan.

==Formation of Deer Tribe==
[[image:Soke_Reagan.jpg|Harley "Soke" Reagan|thumb]]
Deer Tribe was founded in 1986 by Harley Reagan (a Swiss DT-site, however, claims it was founded „by the end of the 70ies“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Zeremonialmedizin/Deer%20tribe%20Metis%20Medicine%20Society.php</ref>)
Its legend and name have been adjusted several times meanwhile. Although the name suggests it is an indigenous ethnic group or association, this does not correspond with facts. The term 'Métis' is used in Canada, where it describes a state recognized ethnic group with its own culture and language (Michif); in the USA, this term has experienced an increased use as of late, but it is mostly used by persons claiming indigenous ancestry which usually is said to have happened several generations before and usually cannot be verified or documented.

Reagan first posed as a Cherokee and claimed to teach secret Cherokee rituals; in reality, red-haired Reagan is a US-American of Irish descent. After the Cherokee nation clarified Reagan was no Cherokee and that his 'teachings' had nothing to do at all with Cherokee spirituality, he adjusted his legend. Since then, he claims a descent from Cherokee and Maya; his 'teachings' then became an alleged conglomerate of spiritual traditions of several peoples, especially of Maya, Olmec, and Toltecs. Furthermore, Reagan presumably meant to realign to other, already established New-Age vendors and perhaps become attractive to their respective clientele, too, since Reagan took up the terms 'tonal' and 'nagual' launched by Carlos Castaneda, and also claimed to have studied with an alleged Navaho 'shaman' who he says is identical with the Don Gennaro character in Castaneda's books.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm </ref>

===Legend exposed===
Reagan claimed a Navaho medicine person, Tom Wilson, as his teacher and even linked Wilson to the Newage novels written by Carlos Castaneda by contending Wilson was in fact the person Castaneda mentioned as "Don Genaro" in his books. According to Reagan, Wilson also belonged to the "Twisted Hairs" who are an invention of Reagan's and never existed. Apparently, a researcher interested in checking the claims put forward by Reagan established that although an existing person, Wilson never was Reagan's teacher and hardly could have been: Wilson spoke no English, and Reagan spoke no Navaho. The researcher interviewed surviving children and grandchildren of Tom Wilson who strongly and unanimously rejected Reagan's claims and the family feels shamed and humiliated by Reagan's allegations.<ref>http://sustainedreaction.yuku.com/topic/6850/Harley-SwiftDeer-Reagans-theft-spiritual-lineage-Navajo#.VkyJJJd39C0 </ref>

==Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan==
Neither the DT websites nor Wikipedia are able to come up with a curriculum vitae. Research is difficult, as Reagan himself presented lots of divergent and contradictory information. A date or year of birth is not available for Reagan; however, the exact day of his passing - September 10, 2013<ref>http://www.forevermissed.com/harley-swiftdeer-reagan#about </ref> - is rendered.

By his own account, Reagan was born in Texas. He further claims to have joined the US Air Force Academy as a cadet in 1958, but already left in May 1959 to join the US Marine Corps in June 1959.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref> After a one-year training, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam for four years, starting in 1960, but also claims his first mission with combat experience took him to Taiwan.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref>.

Reagan's own most important information regarding his curriculum vitae seems to be the comment his family enjoyed the reputation of being liars and raconteurs of imaginative stories.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref>

Reagan also likes to put forward the air of a fighter who is a master of several martial arts, and he is an arms freak. Besides 'spiritual' teachings, his students receive a training in an alleged Indian martial art. His various claims – like e.g. he was a substitute for the 1964 US Judo team and won a fourth place at the Olympics – were, meticulously and comprehensively, debunked at the website of Bullshido.org in 2007 already. This also applies to Reagan's account of being a highly decorated soldier: from 1960, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam, then fought Communist guerillas in Taiwan, and to have returned to Vietnam for his third year there in 1964.<ref>http://www.bullshido.org/Claude_Harley_Reagan </ref>

Reagan's knowledge of history seems to be wanting: prior to 1965, the US army had only military advisors stationed in Vietnam, while Reagan claims to have served there as a 'gunner'. Furthermore, a Communist guerilla in Taiwan only exists in his fantasy. Additionally the US army has no records of a person by the name of Harley Reagan ever having been awarded any medals or decorations. Reagan also claims to have held a world championship in Jiu Jitsu between 1967 and 1970 – but according to his own account was in hospital up to 1968 after having been wounded in action by being shot and doing a 100 ms fall out of a helicopter.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839</ref>

It becomes quite clear that Reagan apparently is an embarassing showboater unimpressed by facts who believes no claim too absurd for an attempt to brush up his image.

==Martial arts training and extremist right ideology==
[[image:DTGC.jpg|Deer Tribe Gun Club|350px|thumb]]
From 1986 on (according to DT sites), he starts calling himself Harley „Swiftdeer“ Reagan and later on „Thunder Strikes“. In the USA, Deer Tribe has the status of a „cult and militia“.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2208.0 </ref> Reagan teaches his students a mix of extremist right ideology, martial arts, and allegedly secret indigenous ceremonies. Reagan's students do not always mention Deer Tribe or Reagan on their sites, but make use of the catchwords of „Twisted Hairs“ and/or „Sweet Medicine Sundance Path“, as well as Chuluaqui Qoudoushka, Reagan's doctrine of supposedly spiritual sexuality.

DT in the USA also maintains a „gun club“ site <ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub.htm </ref>, offers a regular arms training and publishes lists of results.<ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub/matchresults.php </ref> Reagan chose the name of „Chulukua-Ryu“ for his martial art and explains it was developed by several Indian peoples over millenia.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref> Certainly, they will not have named it with the Japanese term „ryu“.

Reagan also recommends students to train in shooting firearms and in martial arts in order to get prepared for a forthcoming 'racial war' against immigrants from Middle and South America.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref> Reagan does not explain how he is able to combine this point of view with an alleged status as Native American – especially since he claims Mayan descent -, and apparently this question is not being raised within DT, either.

Another indication for an extremist right ideology cultivated within DT is an appeal written by Reagan prior to the presidential elections in 2000, in which Reagan quite unabashedly called for DT members and militias to start armed combat in case Al Gore was elected into office.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467 </ref> In this appeal, Reagan adopts the moniker of „The Shooting Shaman“ and also signs the appeal accordingly.<ref>There was no similar appeal when Barack Obama was voted in. According to reports, Reagan is suffering from a tumour; whether the progression of this disease is due to his silence in this matter, however, cannot be established.</ref>

The US website of DT explains:
:''„Integrated self-defense and self-reliance, or overall preparedness, consists of three facets: self defense, survival (both wilderness and urban), and firearms training.'' 
:''These series of self reliance courses was started in 1985 as the „Way of the Warrior Workshops,“ designed to promote physical mastery and presented by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). DTMMS was founded in 1986 by HarleySwiftDeer Reagan; he and his wife Dianne Reagan are the chief instructors. [Note to SMSD apprentices: this corresponds to the Black Lodge program.] 
:''Currently, we offer an annual intensive training in self-defense and the safe and effective handling of firearms.“'' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/index.htm</ref>

There is, however, no detailed information at the US DT site or at the European sites regarding this Black Lodge Programme. The US site also does not mention it in their list of content, quite unlike the Red-Lodge-Programme.

Training with firearms is also not mentioned in the official description of courses offered by European DT branches. Courses in martial arts, however, seem compulsory in order to advance in the so-called 'Gateway' hierarchy of DT. One example is the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defence“ in April 2010 which explains: ''„The training is equivalent to the Black Lodge Standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of this week you will receive a certificate about 45 hours of Black Lodge training. You will be credited entirely with these hours for your self defence resp. gateway process“''.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

Presumably DT does not want to be too precise in public statements about this part of their training. Whether the fundamentally different legislation of most European countries regarding possession of and training with firearms is observed and realized by DT remains unclear.

Apparently DT also cultivates a view of self-defence which differs considerably from the usual perception existing in martial arts: 
''„Current research confirms what Harley SwiftDeer has taught for over 20 years: your best option is to fight. But proper training is essential!“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm</ref>

Once more, Reagan is not able to abstain from enhancing his merit and maintains:
''„These profiles, and the corresponding techniques for stopping these predators, are based on Harley SwiftDeer's thesis, which included in-person interviews of 150 imprisoned rapists and 150 rape victims, studies of actual police reports, and many years of refinement to find the most effective self-defense techniques. Most rape prevention courses in existence today are based on Harley SwiftDeer's original research (also known as psychological rape awareness and Personal Protection Awareness Training [PPAT]).“''<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm </ref>

==„Alternative“ Methods of Healing==
At their US website, DT also promotes alternative healing methods as well as the application of 'ceremonial alchemy' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/</ref> which does not get explained any further.

==The System of Courses==
At the US site at least it becomes apparent that students will enter into a system of courses building on each other, the so-called 'Gateway Process'.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref> Its first level is comprised of a four-year training of which each year has to be booked separately. The advertising text contains extensive promises regarding the personal development of students allegedly caused by the course: 
''„We teach you how to connect with your inner intent, to access different levels of consciousness, to enter heightened awareness, to have happiness, harmony, health, connection and meaning in your life. We teach you how you function as an energy field, and explain the building blocks and energy laws of different dimensional realities.''

''We want you to become an inquisitive free-thinking autonomous individual who takes responsibility for your life and lives it to the fullest. We will empower you and provide a safe journey within a circle of friends who share a desire to make a difference, to take their power and grow up into their highest potential. It is a great journey – but you must do the walking. You must have the willingness to change and make the leap into the next level of human evolution.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref>

It is also apparent that students will be integrated into a system which facilitates their being controlled: in study groups and lodges.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref> Study groups are attributed as the „nucleus family of our tribe“, while lodges are said to be the „clans of our tribe“.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref>

At the same time, interested parties are informed what lies ahead of them if they happen to fail:
''„Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained and added to the even growing body of knowledge. Those that do not hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human enlightenment.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/lineage.htm</ref>

Reagan and DT work with a concept of human advancement which, as the above quote reveals, is not open to every person but apparently only to an elite. This does not only cause a close bond to the system, but also admonishes failure into the realm of individual responsibility. Likewise, internal critics who have developed doubts in the system may be dismissed as 'not chosen' and 'not enlightened'.

==So-called sSpiritual Sexuality==
„Chuluaqui Qoudushka“, or „Qoudoushka“ - sometimes abbreviated to „Q“ by adherents – is an allegedly indigenous system of spiritual sexuality and respective rituals which is taught by DT in courses building on another.

In these courses, participants apparently are broken mentally and pushed into compliance by having to perform various forms of sexual intercourse coram publico.<ref>cf. an article and interview with Reagan published by Phoenix New Times in 2002: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-12/news/sacred-orgasm/1 </ref> The same article also mentions Reagan hires prostitutes for his courses when the number of male participants having booked the course exceeds the number of female participants.

Initially, Reagan declared these alleged teachings to be secret rituals of the Cherokee. When the Cherokee sharply protested Reagan's fantastic ideas, he adapted his explanation of their origins and meanwhile cites an alleged inter-ethnic medicine society, the „Twisted Hairs“: ''"The tradition of the Twisted Hairs on the American continent (north and south) dates back several thousands of years, and has its actual origin also in the lore of the wise of Mu, Lemuria, Mehyun, and Atlantis“''.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm</ref> Reagan and DT here fall victim to a misconception quite popular in New Age circles: the alleged existence of intertribal medicine persons or societies in Native American ethnicities.<ref>The sexual practices to which course participants are made to submit earned Reagan a nickname in the English speaking parts of Indian Country: "Swift Dick".</ref>

==The extension of Deer Tribe==
[[image:DT1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:DT2.jpg|350px|thumb]]
Given the outrageous theories and derivations, the historical misrepresentations, and the embarassingly transparent improvements of his curriculum vitae, it rather comes as a surprise that Reagan should have been able to attract supporters in the first place. In an interview dated June 2002, Reagan claims 5,000 followers in the USA and several European countries.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref>

A presumably official DT site informs about events taking place in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms-europe.com/events_by_country.php </ref>, the US site additionally mentions events in Canada, and claims further DT branches in Australia, England, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/locations.htm#europe</ref>

In the German speaking countries, there are several vendors offering Reagan's alleged teachings to a paying clientele.<ref>e.g. http://www.dtmms-europe.com , http://www.dreamers.ch/dreamers.php , http://www.oneheartwarriors.at , http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref> „Lust und Wissen“ [lust and knowledge] e.g. cover the following issues: „Chuluaqui-Quodoushka – Spiritual Sexuality; Women Ways – women's knowledge; Body-Dearmoring; Resculpting; Being parents and assisting children; Men's Mountain Time; Calendar; Skwanesie Lodge; Circle of the Year; Open Ceremonial Days; Eagle Dance; Sweatlodge Ceremony; Paths of Life“.<ref>http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref>

Vendors of DT seminars in German speaking countries are e.g.:
*Norbert Gold aka „Batty“ Gold aka ThunderBear
*Rose Fink aka ThunderEagle
Both are Austrian citizens and have been living at the DT HQ in Arizona for a long time before they returned to Europe.
From 2001 to 2005, Gold was mentioned as an authorized signatory of Swiss foundation „Sweet Medicine Metis Sundance Foundation“; his residence was Scottsdale, USA at first.<ref>cf. http://www.edoceo.ch/de/sweet_medicine_metis_sundance_stiftung_CH16070039675.aspx</ref> Gold and Fink also organize DT seminars at the ZEGG premises at Belzig (cf. further down). 
A website apparently maintained for Gold and Fink mentions Gold is active in DT since 1983, Fink since 1986.<ref>cf. http//www.quodoushka.info/rub.php </ref>

Sabina Tschudi aka Sabina Crystal Cave Dreamer and Johannes Schröder aka Johannes Star Licht Carrier [sic] (real-life name presumably Uwe Johannes Schröder) offer seminars in Switzerland and Germany, and maintain the Stardreamer Lodge. Tschudi also launched the above mentioned foundation.

Johanna Nickl aka Johanna StarCrow Nickl and Karsten Guschke aka Karsten FireFox Guschke maintain the Skwanesie Lodge which has the same postal address as [[ZEGG]] in Belzig (several websites state Guschke's e-mail address as „...@zegg...“); another person mentioned is Andrea Moonstar Mrosla.

Brigitte Kimmerle aka Gray Burro maintains the Mirrordancer Lodge and used to be in charge of the European DT site (and possibly still is, as the site is still up but does not seem to be updated too often).

Austrian Wolfram Reiter aka WolfRaven OneHeartedStandingMountain maintains the Warriors Lodge.

==Cooperation with other suppliers on the [[Esotericism|esoteric]] market==
Since a few years, several „teachers“ attached to DT organise seminars in the ZEGG premises in the town of Belzig [ZEGG = Centre for Experimental Cultural Design] which are announced as a „hosted event“ at the ZEGG website. Among these are seminars on the subject of so-called Quodoushka.<ref>e.g.: http://www.zegg.de/index.php?april</ref> Cooperation with ZEGG apparently is due to certain ideological parellels in the domain of sexuality. Detailed information on ZEGG is provided by a meticulous in-depth study titled „ZEGGsismus“.<ref>http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html</ref>

Although training with firearms is not visible in the published range of items of the European DT branches, martial arts seminars seem compulsory to advance in the „gateway“ hierarchy of DT: the course description of the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defense“ in April 2010 informs interested parties:
„''This training corresponds to Black Lodge standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of the week, you will receive a certificate about 45 Black Lodge training units. These units will be fully included into your achievements as martial arts or self-defence in your gateway process''“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|en=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society}}

==Sources==
<references/>

Fotos:
*Reagan: http://www.ten-no-kishi.com/
*Gold und Fink: :http://www.quodoushka.info/rub.php and in a younger age: http://www.adlerin.at/quod.rosebatty.php
*Tschudi und Schröder: http://www.dreamers.ch/Wer%20sind%20wir/Wer%20wir%20sind.php
*Nickl, Guschke, Mrosla: http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de/ueber-uns.phtml
*Wolfram Reiter: http://www.oneheartwarriors.at/wolfram_reiter_wolfrabe
*Brigitte Kimmerle: http://brigitte-kimmerle.de/default.aspx

[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Deer Tribe

2015-11-18T17:29:12Z

Halbmond: /* Formation of Deer Tribe */

The '''Deer Tribe''', or Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DT), claims the status of an ethnic group with its name, but it is an artificial association with cult character. Persons willing to join do not need to prove a certain ethnic affiliation or descendence, but must rather submit to a system of courses. Deer Tribe sells a system of courses building on each other, in which students eventually will advance to higher grades of initiation; these courses will incur a fee.

Since Harley Reagan's death in 2013, the enterprise is run by his second wife Dianne Reagan.

==Formation of Deer Tribe==
[[image:Soke_Reagan.jpg|Harley "Soke" Reagan|thumb]]
Deer Tribe was founded in 1986 by Harley Reagan (a Swiss DT-site, however, claims it was founded „by the end of the 70ies“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Zeremonialmedizin/Deer%20tribe%20Metis%20Medicine%20Society.php</ref>)
Its legend and name have been adjusted several times meanwhile. Although the name suggests it is an indigenous ethnic group or association, this does not correspond with facts. The term 'Métis' is used in Canada, where it describes a state recognized ethnic group with its own culture and language (Michif); in the USA, this term has experienced an increased use as of late, but it is mostly used by persons claiming indigenous ancestry which usually is said to have happened several generations before and usually cannot be verified or documented.

Reagan first posed as a Cherokee and claimed to teach secret Cherokee rituals; in reality, red-haired Reagan is a US-American of Irish descent. After the Cherokee nation clarified Reagan was no Cherokee and that his 'teachings' had nothing to do at all with Cherokee spirituality, he adjusted his legend. Since then, he claims a descent from Cherokee and Maya; his 'teachings' then became an alleged conglomerate of spiritual traditions of several peoples, especially of Maya, Olmec, and Toltecs. Furthermore, Reagan presumably meant to realign to other, already established New-Age vendors and perhaps become attractive to their respective clientele, too, since Reagan took up the terms 'tonal' and 'nagual' launched by Carlos Castaneda, and also claimed to have studied with an alleged Navaho 'shaman' who he says is identical with the Don Gennaro character in Castaneda's books.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm </ref>

===Legend exposed===
Reagan claimed a Navaho medicine person, Tom Wilson, as his teacher and even linked Wilson to the Newage novels written by Carlos Castaneda by contending Wilson was in fact the person Castaneda mentioned as "Don Genaro" in his books. Apparently, a researcher interested in checking the claims put forward by Reagan established that although an existing person, Wilson never was Reagan's teacher and hardly could have been: Wilson spoke no English, and Reagan spoke no Navaho. The researcher interviewed surviving children and grandchildren of Tom Wilson who strongly and unanimously rejected Reagan's claims and the family feels shamed and humiliated by Reagan's allegations.<ref>http://sustainedreaction.yuku.com/topic/6850/Harley-SwiftDeer-Reagans-theft-spiritual-lineage-Navajo#.VkyJJJd39C0 </ref>

==Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan==
Neither the DT websites nor Wikipedia are able to come up with a curriculum vitae. Research is difficult, as Reagan himself presented lots of divergent and contradictory information. A date or year of birth is not available for Reagan; however, the exact day of his passing - September 10, 2013<ref>http://www.forevermissed.com/harley-swiftdeer-reagan#about </ref> - is rendered.

By his own account, Reagan was born in Texas. He further claims to have joined the US Air Force Academy as a cadet in 1958, but already left in May 1959 to join the US Marine Corps in June 1959.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref> After a one-year training, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam for four years, starting in 1960, but also claims his first mission with combat experience took him to Taiwan.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref>.

Reagan's own most important information regarding his curriculum vitae seems to be the comment his family enjoyed the reputation of being liars and raconteurs of imaginative stories.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref>

Reagan also likes to put forward the air of a fighter who is a master of several martial arts, and he is an arms freak. Besides 'spiritual' teachings, his students receive a training in an alleged Indian martial art. His various claims – like e.g. he was a substitute for the 1964 US Judo team and won a fourth place at the Olympics – were, meticulously and comprehensively, debunked at the website of Bullshido.org in 2007 already. This also applies to Reagan's account of being a highly decorated soldier: from 1960, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam, then fought Communist guerillas in Taiwan, and to have returned to Vietnam for his third year there in 1964.<ref>http://www.bullshido.org/Claude_Harley_Reagan </ref>

Reagan's knowledge of history seems to be wanting: prior to 1965, the US army had only military advisors stationed in Vietnam, while Reagan claims to have served there as a 'gunner'. Furthermore, a Communist guerilla in Taiwan only exists in his fantasy. Additionally the US army has no records of a person by the name of Harley Reagan ever having been awarded any medals or decorations. Reagan also claims to have held a world championship in Jiu Jitsu between 1967 and 1970 – but according to his own account was in hospital up to 1968 after having been wounded in action by being shot and doing a 100 ms fall out of a helicopter.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839</ref>

It becomes quite clear that Reagan apparently is an embarassing showboater unimpressed by facts who believes no claim too absurd for an attempt to brush up his image.

==Martial arts training and extremist right ideology==
[[image:DTGC.jpg|Deer Tribe Gun Club|350px|thumb]]
From 1986 on (according to DT sites), he starts calling himself Harley „Swiftdeer“ Reagan and later on „Thunder Strikes“. In the USA, Deer Tribe has the status of a „cult and militia“.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2208.0 </ref> Reagan teaches his students a mix of extremist right ideology, martial arts, and allegedly secret indigenous ceremonies. Reagan's students do not always mention Deer Tribe or Reagan on their sites, but make use of the catchwords of „Twisted Hairs“ and/or „Sweet Medicine Sundance Path“, as well as Chuluaqui Qoudoushka, Reagan's doctrine of supposedly spiritual sexuality.

DT in the USA also maintains a „gun club“ site <ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub.htm </ref>, offers a regular arms training and publishes lists of results.<ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub/matchresults.php </ref> Reagan chose the name of „Chulukua-Ryu“ for his martial art and explains it was developed by several Indian peoples over millenia.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref> Certainly, they will not have named it with the Japanese term „ryu“.

Reagan also recommends students to train in shooting firearms and in martial arts in order to get prepared for a forthcoming 'racial war' against immigrants from Middle and South America.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref> Reagan does not explain how he is able to combine this point of view with an alleged status as Native American – especially since he claims Mayan descent -, and apparently this question is not being raised within DT, either.

Another indication for an extremist right ideology cultivated within DT is an appeal written by Reagan prior to the presidential elections in 2000, in which Reagan quite unabashedly called for DT members and militias to start armed combat in case Al Gore was elected into office.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467 </ref> In this appeal, Reagan adopts the moniker of „The Shooting Shaman“ and also signs the appeal accordingly.<ref>There was no similar appeal when Barack Obama was voted in. According to reports, Reagan is suffering from a tumour; whether the progression of this disease is due to his silence in this matter, however, cannot be established.</ref>

The US website of DT explains:
:''„Integrated self-defense and self-reliance, or overall preparedness, consists of three facets: self defense, survival (both wilderness and urban), and firearms training.'' 
:''These series of self reliance courses was started in 1985 as the „Way of the Warrior Workshops,“ designed to promote physical mastery and presented by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). DTMMS was founded in 1986 by HarleySwiftDeer Reagan; he and his wife Dianne Reagan are the chief instructors. [Note to SMSD apprentices: this corresponds to the Black Lodge program.] 
:''Currently, we offer an annual intensive training in self-defense and the safe and effective handling of firearms.“'' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/index.htm</ref>

There is, however, no detailed information at the US DT site or at the European sites regarding this Black Lodge Programme. The US site also does not mention it in their list of content, quite unlike the Red-Lodge-Programme.

Training with firearms is also not mentioned in the official description of courses offered by European DT branches. Courses in martial arts, however, seem compulsory in order to advance in the so-called 'Gateway' hierarchy of DT. One example is the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defence“ in April 2010 which explains: ''„The training is equivalent to the Black Lodge Standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of this week you will receive a certificate about 45 hours of Black Lodge training. You will be credited entirely with these hours for your self defence resp. gateway process“''.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

Presumably DT does not want to be too precise in public statements about this part of their training. Whether the fundamentally different legislation of most European countries regarding possession of and training with firearms is observed and realized by DT remains unclear.

Apparently DT also cultivates a view of self-defence which differs considerably from the usual perception existing in martial arts: 
''„Current research confirms what Harley SwiftDeer has taught for over 20 years: your best option is to fight. But proper training is essential!“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm</ref>

Once more, Reagan is not able to abstain from enhancing his merit and maintains:
''„These profiles, and the corresponding techniques for stopping these predators, are based on Harley SwiftDeer's thesis, which included in-person interviews of 150 imprisoned rapists and 150 rape victims, studies of actual police reports, and many years of refinement to find the most effective self-defense techniques. Most rape prevention courses in existence today are based on Harley SwiftDeer's original research (also known as psychological rape awareness and Personal Protection Awareness Training [PPAT]).“''<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm </ref>

==„Alternative“ Methods of Healing==
At their US website, DT also promotes alternative healing methods as well as the application of 'ceremonial alchemy' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/</ref> which does not get explained any further.

==The System of Courses==
At the US site at least it becomes apparent that students will enter into a system of courses building on each other, the so-called 'Gateway Process'.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref> Its first level is comprised of a four-year training of which each year has to be booked separately. The advertising text contains extensive promises regarding the personal development of students allegedly caused by the course: 
''„We teach you how to connect with your inner intent, to access different levels of consciousness, to enter heightened awareness, to have happiness, harmony, health, connection and meaning in your life. We teach you how you function as an energy field, and explain the building blocks and energy laws of different dimensional realities.''

''We want you to become an inquisitive free-thinking autonomous individual who takes responsibility for your life and lives it to the fullest. We will empower you and provide a safe journey within a circle of friends who share a desire to make a difference, to take their power and grow up into their highest potential. It is a great journey – but you must do the walking. You must have the willingness to change and make the leap into the next level of human evolution.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref>

It is also apparent that students will be integrated into a system which facilitates their being controlled: in study groups and lodges.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref> Study groups are attributed as the „nucleus family of our tribe“, while lodges are said to be the „clans of our tribe“.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref>

At the same time, interested parties are informed what lies ahead of them if they happen to fail:
''„Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained and added to the even growing body of knowledge. Those that do not hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human enlightenment.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/lineage.htm</ref>

Reagan and DT work with a concept of human advancement which, as the above quote reveals, is not open to every person but apparently only to an elite. This does not only cause a close bond to the system, but also admonishes failure into the realm of individual responsibility. Likewise, internal critics who have developed doubts in the system may be dismissed as 'not chosen' and 'not enlightened'.

==So-called sSpiritual Sexuality==
„Chuluaqui Qoudushka“, or „Qoudoushka“ - sometimes abbreviated to „Q“ by adherents – is an allegedly indigenous system of spiritual sexuality and respective rituals which is taught by DT in courses building on another.

In these courses, participants apparently are broken mentally and pushed into compliance by having to perform various forms of sexual intercourse coram publico.<ref>cf. an article and interview with Reagan published by Phoenix New Times in 2002: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-12/news/sacred-orgasm/1 </ref> The same article also mentions Reagan hires prostitutes for his courses when the number of male participants having booked the course exceeds the number of female participants.

Initially, Reagan declared these alleged teachings to be secret rituals of the Cherokee. When the Cherokee sharply protested Reagan's fantastic ideas, he adapted his explanation of their origins and meanwhile cites an alleged inter-ethnic medicine society, the „Twisted Hairs“: ''"The tradition of the Twisted Hairs on the American continent (north and south) dates back several thousands of years, and has its actual origin also in the lore of the wise of Mu, Lemuria, Mehyun, and Atlantis“''.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm</ref> Reagan and DT here fall victim to a misconception quite popular in New Age circles: the alleged existence of intertribal medicine persons or societies in Native American ethnicities.<ref>The sexual practices to which course participants are made to submit earned Reagan a nickname in the English speaking parts of Indian Country: "Swift Dick".</ref>

==The extension of Deer Tribe==
[[image:DT1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:DT2.jpg|350px|thumb]]
Given the outrageous theories and derivations, the historical misrepresentations, and the embarassingly transparent improvements of his curriculum vitae, it rather comes as a surprise that Reagan should have been able to attract supporters in the first place. In an interview dated June 2002, Reagan claims 5,000 followers in the USA and several European countries.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref>

A presumably official DT site informs about events taking place in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms-europe.com/events_by_country.php </ref>, the US site additionally mentions events in Canada, and claims further DT branches in Australia, England, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/locations.htm#europe</ref>

In the German speaking countries, there are several vendors offering Reagan's alleged teachings to a paying clientele.<ref>e.g. http://www.dtmms-europe.com , http://www.dreamers.ch/dreamers.php , http://www.oneheartwarriors.at , http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref> „Lust und Wissen“ [lust and knowledge] e.g. cover the following issues: „Chuluaqui-Quodoushka – Spiritual Sexuality; Women Ways – women's knowledge; Body-Dearmoring; Resculpting; Being parents and assisting children; Men's Mountain Time; Calendar; Skwanesie Lodge; Circle of the Year; Open Ceremonial Days; Eagle Dance; Sweatlodge Ceremony; Paths of Life“.<ref>http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref>

Vendors of DT seminars in German speaking countries are e.g.:
*Norbert Gold aka „Batty“ Gold aka ThunderBear
*Rose Fink aka ThunderEagle
Both are Austrian citizens and have been living at the DT HQ in Arizona for a long time before they returned to Europe.
From 2001 to 2005, Gold was mentioned as an authorized signatory of Swiss foundation „Sweet Medicine Metis Sundance Foundation“; his residence was Scottsdale, USA at first.<ref>cf. http://www.edoceo.ch/de/sweet_medicine_metis_sundance_stiftung_CH16070039675.aspx</ref> Gold and Fink also organize DT seminars at the ZEGG premises at Belzig (cf. further down). 
A website apparently maintained for Gold and Fink mentions Gold is active in DT since 1983, Fink since 1986.<ref>cf. http//www.quodoushka.info/rub.php </ref>

Sabina Tschudi aka Sabina Crystal Cave Dreamer and Johannes Schröder aka Johannes Star Licht Carrier [sic] (real-life name presumably Uwe Johannes Schröder) offer seminars in Switzerland and Germany, and maintain the Stardreamer Lodge. Tschudi also launched the above mentioned foundation.

Johanna Nickl aka Johanna StarCrow Nickl and Karsten Guschke aka Karsten FireFox Guschke maintain the Skwanesie Lodge which has the same postal address as [[ZEGG]] in Belzig (several websites state Guschke's e-mail address as „...@zegg...“); another person mentioned is Andrea Moonstar Mrosla.

Brigitte Kimmerle aka Gray Burro maintains the Mirrordancer Lodge and used to be in charge of the European DT site (and possibly still is, as the site is still up but does not seem to be updated too often).

Austrian Wolfram Reiter aka WolfRaven OneHeartedStandingMountain maintains the Warriors Lodge.

==Cooperation with other suppliers on the [[Esotericism|esoteric]] market==
Since a few years, several „teachers“ attached to DT organise seminars in the ZEGG premises in the town of Belzig [ZEGG = Centre for Experimental Cultural Design] which are announced as a „hosted event“ at the ZEGG website. Among these are seminars on the subject of so-called Quodoushka.<ref>e.g.: http://www.zegg.de/index.php?april</ref> Cooperation with ZEGG apparently is due to certain ideological parellels in the domain of sexuality. Detailed information on ZEGG is provided by a meticulous in-depth study titled „ZEGGsismus“.<ref>http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html</ref>

Although training with firearms is not visible in the published range of items of the European DT branches, martial arts seminars seem compulsory to advance in the „gateway“ hierarchy of DT: the course description of the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defense“ in April 2010 informs interested parties:
„''This training corresponds to Black Lodge standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of the week, you will receive a certificate about 45 Black Lodge training units. These units will be fully included into your achievements as martial arts or self-defence in your gateway process''“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|en=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society}}

==Sources==
<references/>

Fotos:
*Reagan: http://www.ten-no-kishi.com/
*Gold und Fink: :http://www.quodoushka.info/rub.php and in a younger age: http://www.adlerin.at/quod.rosebatty.php
*Tschudi und Schröder: http://www.dreamers.ch/Wer%20sind%20wir/Wer%20wir%20sind.php
*Nickl, Guschke, Mrosla: http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de/ueber-uns.phtml
*Wolfram Reiter: http://www.oneheartwarriors.at/wolfram_reiter_wolfrabe
*Brigitte Kimmerle: http://brigitte-kimmerle.de/default.aspx

[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Deer Tribe

2015-11-18T17:18:02Z

Halbmond: /* Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan */

The '''Deer Tribe''', or Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DT), claims the status of an ethnic group with its name, but it is an artificial association with cult character. Persons willing to join do not need to prove a certain ethnic affiliation or descendence, but must rather submit to a system of courses. Deer Tribe sells a system of courses building on each other, in which students eventually will advance to higher grades of initiation; these courses will incur a fee.

Since Harley Reagan's death in 2013, the enterprise is run by his second wife Dianne Reagan.

==Formation of Deer Tribe==
[[image:Soke_Reagan.jpg|Harley "Soke" Reagan|thumb]]
Deer Tribe was founded in 1986 by Harley Reagan (a Swiss DT-site, however, claims it was founded „by the end of the 70ies“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Zeremonialmedizin/Deer%20tribe%20Metis%20Medicine%20Society.php</ref>)
Its legend and name have been adjusted several times meanwhile. Although the name suggests it is an indigenous ethnic group or association, this does not correspond with facts. The term 'Métis' is used in Canada, where it describes a state recognized ethnic group with its own culture and language (Michif); in the USA, this term has experienced an increased use as of late, but it is mostly used by persons claiming indigenous ancestry which usually is said to have happened several generations before and usually cannot be verified or documented.

Reagan first posed as a Cherokee and claimed to teach secret Cherokee rituals; in reality, red-haired Reagan is a US-American of Irish descent. After the Cherokee nation clarified Reagan was no Cherokee and that his 'teachings' had nothing to do at all with Cherokee spirituality, he adjusted his legend. Since then, he claims a descent from Cherokee and Maya; his 'teachings' then became an alleged conglomerate of spiritual traditions of several peoples, especially of Maya, Olmec, and Toltecs. Furthermore, Reagan presumably meant to realign to other, already established New-Age vendors and perhaps become attractive to their respective clientele, too, since Reagan took up the terms 'tonal' and 'nagual' launched by Carlos Castaneda, and also claimed to have studied with an alleged Navaho 'shaman' who he says is identical with the Don Gennaro character in Castaneda's books.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm </ref>

==Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan==
Neither the DT websites nor Wikipedia are able to come up with a curriculum vitae. Research is difficult, as Reagan himself presented lots of divergent and contradictory information. A date or year of birth is not available for Reagan; however, the exact day of his passing - September 10, 2013<ref>http://www.forevermissed.com/harley-swiftdeer-reagan#about </ref> - is rendered.

By his own account, Reagan was born in Texas. He further claims to have joined the US Air Force Academy as a cadet in 1958, but already left in May 1959 to join the US Marine Corps in June 1959.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref> After a one-year training, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam for four years, starting in 1960, but also claims his first mission with combat experience took him to Taiwan.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref>.

Reagan's own most important information regarding his curriculum vitae seems to be the comment his family enjoyed the reputation of being liars and raconteurs of imaginative stories.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref>

Reagan also likes to put forward the air of a fighter who is a master of several martial arts, and he is an arms freak. Besides 'spiritual' teachings, his students receive a training in an alleged Indian martial art. His various claims – like e.g. he was a substitute for the 1964 US Judo team and won a fourth place at the Olympics – were, meticulously and comprehensively, debunked at the website of Bullshido.org in 2007 already. This also applies to Reagan's account of being a highly decorated soldier: from 1960, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam, then fought Communist guerillas in Taiwan, and to have returned to Vietnam for his third year there in 1964.<ref>http://www.bullshido.org/Claude_Harley_Reagan </ref>

Reagan's knowledge of history seems to be wanting: prior to 1965, the US army had only military advisors stationed in Vietnam, while Reagan claims to have served there as a 'gunner'. Furthermore, a Communist guerilla in Taiwan only exists in his fantasy. Additionally the US army has no records of a person by the name of Harley Reagan ever having been awarded any medals or decorations. Reagan also claims to have held a world championship in Jiu Jitsu between 1967 and 1970 – but according to his own account was in hospital up to 1968 after having been wounded in action by being shot and doing a 100 ms fall out of a helicopter.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839</ref>

It becomes quite clear that Reagan apparently is an embarassing showboater unimpressed by facts who believes no claim too absurd for an attempt to brush up his image.

==Martial arts training and extremist right ideology==
[[image:DTGC.jpg|Deer Tribe Gun Club|350px|thumb]]
From 1986 on (according to DT sites), he starts calling himself Harley „Swiftdeer“ Reagan and later on „Thunder Strikes“. In the USA, Deer Tribe has the status of a „cult and militia“.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2208.0 </ref> Reagan teaches his students a mix of extremist right ideology, martial arts, and allegedly secret indigenous ceremonies. Reagan's students do not always mention Deer Tribe or Reagan on their sites, but make use of the catchwords of „Twisted Hairs“ and/or „Sweet Medicine Sundance Path“, as well as Chuluaqui Qoudoushka, Reagan's doctrine of supposedly spiritual sexuality.

DT in the USA also maintains a „gun club“ site <ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub.htm </ref>, offers a regular arms training and publishes lists of results.<ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub/matchresults.php </ref> Reagan chose the name of „Chulukua-Ryu“ for his martial art and explains it was developed by several Indian peoples over millenia.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref> Certainly, they will not have named it with the Japanese term „ryu“.

Reagan also recommends students to train in shooting firearms and in martial arts in order to get prepared for a forthcoming 'racial war' against immigrants from Middle and South America.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref> Reagan does not explain how he is able to combine this point of view with an alleged status as Native American – especially since he claims Mayan descent -, and apparently this question is not being raised within DT, either.

Another indication for an extremist right ideology cultivated within DT is an appeal written by Reagan prior to the presidential elections in 2000, in which Reagan quite unabashedly called for DT members and militias to start armed combat in case Al Gore was elected into office.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467 </ref> In this appeal, Reagan adopts the moniker of „The Shooting Shaman“ and also signs the appeal accordingly.<ref>There was no similar appeal when Barack Obama was voted in. According to reports, Reagan is suffering from a tumour; whether the progression of this disease is due to his silence in this matter, however, cannot be established.</ref>

The US website of DT explains:
:''„Integrated self-defense and self-reliance, or overall preparedness, consists of three facets: self defense, survival (both wilderness and urban), and firearms training.'' 
:''These series of self reliance courses was started in 1985 as the „Way of the Warrior Workshops,“ designed to promote physical mastery and presented by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). DTMMS was founded in 1986 by HarleySwiftDeer Reagan; he and his wife Dianne Reagan are the chief instructors. [Note to SMSD apprentices: this corresponds to the Black Lodge program.] 
:''Currently, we offer an annual intensive training in self-defense and the safe and effective handling of firearms.“'' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/index.htm</ref>

There is, however, no detailed information at the US DT site or at the European sites regarding this Black Lodge Programme. The US site also does not mention it in their list of content, quite unlike the Red-Lodge-Programme.

Training with firearms is also not mentioned in the official description of courses offered by European DT branches. Courses in martial arts, however, seem compulsory in order to advance in the so-called 'Gateway' hierarchy of DT. One example is the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defence“ in April 2010 which explains: ''„The training is equivalent to the Black Lodge Standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of this week you will receive a certificate about 45 hours of Black Lodge training. You will be credited entirely with these hours for your self defence resp. gateway process“''.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

Presumably DT does not want to be too precise in public statements about this part of their training. Whether the fundamentally different legislation of most European countries regarding possession of and training with firearms is observed and realized by DT remains unclear.

Apparently DT also cultivates a view of self-defence which differs considerably from the usual perception existing in martial arts: 
''„Current research confirms what Harley SwiftDeer has taught for over 20 years: your best option is to fight. But proper training is essential!“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm</ref>

Once more, Reagan is not able to abstain from enhancing his merit and maintains:
''„These profiles, and the corresponding techniques for stopping these predators, are based on Harley SwiftDeer's thesis, which included in-person interviews of 150 imprisoned rapists and 150 rape victims, studies of actual police reports, and many years of refinement to find the most effective self-defense techniques. Most rape prevention courses in existence today are based on Harley SwiftDeer's original research (also known as psychological rape awareness and Personal Protection Awareness Training [PPAT]).“''<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm </ref>

==„Alternative“ Methods of Healing==
At their US website, DT also promotes alternative healing methods as well as the application of 'ceremonial alchemy' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/</ref> which does not get explained any further.

==The System of Courses==
At the US site at least it becomes apparent that students will enter into a system of courses building on each other, the so-called 'Gateway Process'.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref> Its first level is comprised of a four-year training of which each year has to be booked separately. The advertising text contains extensive promises regarding the personal development of students allegedly caused by the course: 
''„We teach you how to connect with your inner intent, to access different levels of consciousness, to enter heightened awareness, to have happiness, harmony, health, connection and meaning in your life. We teach you how you function as an energy field, and explain the building blocks and energy laws of different dimensional realities.''

''We want you to become an inquisitive free-thinking autonomous individual who takes responsibility for your life and lives it to the fullest. We will empower you and provide a safe journey within a circle of friends who share a desire to make a difference, to take their power and grow up into their highest potential. It is a great journey – but you must do the walking. You must have the willingness to change and make the leap into the next level of human evolution.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref>

It is also apparent that students will be integrated into a system which facilitates their being controlled: in study groups and lodges.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref> Study groups are attributed as the „nucleus family of our tribe“, while lodges are said to be the „clans of our tribe“.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref>

At the same time, interested parties are informed what lies ahead of them if they happen to fail:
''„Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained and added to the even growing body of knowledge. Those that do not hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human enlightenment.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/lineage.htm</ref>

Reagan and DT work with a concept of human advancement which, as the above quote reveals, is not open to every person but apparently only to an elite. This does not only cause a close bond to the system, but also admonishes failure into the realm of individual responsibility. Likewise, internal critics who have developed doubts in the system may be dismissed as 'not chosen' and 'not enlightened'.

==So-called sSpiritual Sexuality==
„Chuluaqui Qoudushka“, or „Qoudoushka“ - sometimes abbreviated to „Q“ by adherents – is an allegedly indigenous system of spiritual sexuality and respective rituals which is taught by DT in courses building on another.

In these courses, participants apparently are broken mentally and pushed into compliance by having to perform various forms of sexual intercourse coram publico.<ref>cf. an article and interview with Reagan published by Phoenix New Times in 2002: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-12/news/sacred-orgasm/1 </ref> The same article also mentions Reagan hires prostitutes for his courses when the number of male participants having booked the course exceeds the number of female participants.

Initially, Reagan declared these alleged teachings to be secret rituals of the Cherokee. When the Cherokee sharply protested Reagan's fantastic ideas, he adapted his explanation of their origins and meanwhile cites an alleged inter-ethnic medicine society, the „Twisted Hairs“: ''"The tradition of the Twisted Hairs on the American continent (north and south) dates back several thousands of years, and has its actual origin also in the lore of the wise of Mu, Lemuria, Mehyun, and Atlantis“''.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm</ref> Reagan and DT here fall victim to a misconception quite popular in New Age circles: the alleged existence of intertribal medicine persons or societies in Native American ethnicities.<ref>The sexual practices to which course participants are made to submit earned Reagan a nickname in the English speaking parts of Indian Country: "Swift Dick".</ref>

==The extension of Deer Tribe==
[[image:DT1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:DT2.jpg|350px|thumb]]
Given the outrageous theories and derivations, the historical misrepresentations, and the embarassingly transparent improvements of his curriculum vitae, it rather comes as a surprise that Reagan should have been able to attract supporters in the first place. In an interview dated June 2002, Reagan claims 5,000 followers in the USA and several European countries.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref>

A presumably official DT site informs about events taking place in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms-europe.com/events_by_country.php </ref>, the US site additionally mentions events in Canada, and claims further DT branches in Australia, England, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/locations.htm#europe</ref>

In the German speaking countries, there are several vendors offering Reagan's alleged teachings to a paying clientele.<ref>e.g. http://www.dtmms-europe.com , http://www.dreamers.ch/dreamers.php , http://www.oneheartwarriors.at , http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref> „Lust und Wissen“ [lust and knowledge] e.g. cover the following issues: „Chuluaqui-Quodoushka – Spiritual Sexuality; Women Ways – women's knowledge; Body-Dearmoring; Resculpting; Being parents and assisting children; Men's Mountain Time; Calendar; Skwanesie Lodge; Circle of the Year; Open Ceremonial Days; Eagle Dance; Sweatlodge Ceremony; Paths of Life“.<ref>http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref>

Vendors of DT seminars in German speaking countries are e.g.:
*Norbert Gold aka „Batty“ Gold aka ThunderBear
*Rose Fink aka ThunderEagle
Both are Austrian citizens and have been living at the DT HQ in Arizona for a long time before they returned to Europe.
From 2001 to 2005, Gold was mentioned as an authorized signatory of Swiss foundation „Sweet Medicine Metis Sundance Foundation“; his residence was Scottsdale, USA at first.<ref>cf. http://www.edoceo.ch/de/sweet_medicine_metis_sundance_stiftung_CH16070039675.aspx</ref> Gold and Fink also organize DT seminars at the ZEGG premises at Belzig (cf. further down). 
A website apparently maintained for Gold and Fink mentions Gold is active in DT since 1983, Fink since 1986.<ref>cf. http//www.quodoushka.info/rub.php </ref>

Sabina Tschudi aka Sabina Crystal Cave Dreamer and Johannes Schröder aka Johannes Star Licht Carrier [sic] (real-life name presumably Uwe Johannes Schröder) offer seminars in Switzerland and Germany, and maintain the Stardreamer Lodge. Tschudi also launched the above mentioned foundation.

Johanna Nickl aka Johanna StarCrow Nickl and Karsten Guschke aka Karsten FireFox Guschke maintain the Skwanesie Lodge which has the same postal address as [[ZEGG]] in Belzig (several websites state Guschke's e-mail address as „...@zegg...“); another person mentioned is Andrea Moonstar Mrosla.

Brigitte Kimmerle aka Gray Burro maintains the Mirrordancer Lodge and used to be in charge of the European DT site (and possibly still is, as the site is still up but does not seem to be updated too often).

Austrian Wolfram Reiter aka WolfRaven OneHeartedStandingMountain maintains the Warriors Lodge.

==Cooperation with other suppliers on the [[Esotericism|esoteric]] market==
Since a few years, several „teachers“ attached to DT organise seminars in the ZEGG premises in the town of Belzig [ZEGG = Centre for Experimental Cultural Design] which are announced as a „hosted event“ at the ZEGG website. Among these are seminars on the subject of so-called Quodoushka.<ref>e.g.: http://www.zegg.de/index.php?april</ref> Cooperation with ZEGG apparently is due to certain ideological parellels in the domain of sexuality. Detailed information on ZEGG is provided by a meticulous in-depth study titled „ZEGGsismus“.<ref>http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html</ref>

Although training with firearms is not visible in the published range of items of the European DT branches, martial arts seminars seem compulsory to advance in the „gateway“ hierarchy of DT: the course description of the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defense“ in April 2010 informs interested parties:
„''This training corresponds to Black Lodge standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of the week, you will receive a certificate about 45 Black Lodge training units. These units will be fully included into your achievements as martial arts or self-defence in your gateway process''“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|en=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society}}

==Sources==
<references/>

Fotos:
*Reagan: http://www.ten-no-kishi.com/
*Gold und Fink: :http://www.quodoushka.info/rub.php and in a younger age: http://www.adlerin.at/quod.rosebatty.php
*Tschudi und Schröder: http://www.dreamers.ch/Wer%20sind%20wir/Wer%20wir%20sind.php
*Nickl, Guschke, Mrosla: http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de/ueber-uns.phtml
*Wolfram Reiter: http://www.oneheartwarriors.at/wolfram_reiter_wolfrabe
*Brigitte Kimmerle: http://brigitte-kimmerle.de/default.aspx

[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Deer Tribe

2015-11-18T17:13:36Z

Halbmond:

The '''Deer Tribe''', or Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DT), claims the status of an ethnic group with its name, but it is an artificial association with cult character. Persons willing to join do not need to prove a certain ethnic affiliation or descendence, but must rather submit to a system of courses. Deer Tribe sells a system of courses building on each other, in which students eventually will advance to higher grades of initiation; these courses will incur a fee.

Since Harley Reagan's death in 2013, the enterprise is run by his second wife Dianne Reagan.

==Formation of Deer Tribe==
[[image:Soke_Reagan.jpg|Harley "Soke" Reagan|thumb]]
Deer Tribe was founded in 1986 by Harley Reagan (a Swiss DT-site, however, claims it was founded „by the end of the 70ies“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Zeremonialmedizin/Deer%20tribe%20Metis%20Medicine%20Society.php</ref>)
Its legend and name have been adjusted several times meanwhile. Although the name suggests it is an indigenous ethnic group or association, this does not correspond with facts. The term 'Métis' is used in Canada, where it describes a state recognized ethnic group with its own culture and language (Michif); in the USA, this term has experienced an increased use as of late, but it is mostly used by persons claiming indigenous ancestry which usually is said to have happened several generations before and usually cannot be verified or documented.

Reagan first posed as a Cherokee and claimed to teach secret Cherokee rituals; in reality, red-haired Reagan is a US-American of Irish descent. After the Cherokee nation clarified Reagan was no Cherokee and that his 'teachings' had nothing to do at all with Cherokee spirituality, he adjusted his legend. Since then, he claims a descent from Cherokee and Maya; his 'teachings' then became an alleged conglomerate of spiritual traditions of several peoples, especially of Maya, Olmec, and Toltecs. Furthermore, Reagan presumably meant to realign to other, already established New-Age vendors and perhaps become attractive to their respective clientele, too, since Reagan took up the terms 'tonal' and 'nagual' launched by Carlos Castaneda, and also claimed to have studied with an alleged Navaho 'shaman' who he says is identical with the Don Gennaro character in Castaneda's books.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm </ref>

==Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan==
Neither the DT websites nor Wikipedia are able to come up with a curriculum vitae. Research is difficult, as Reagan himself presented lots of divergent and contradictory information. A date or year of birth is not available for Reagan; however, the exact day of his passing - September 10, 2013<ref>http://www.forevermissed.com/harley-swiftdeer-reagan#about </ref> - is rendered.

By his own account, Reagan was born in Texas. He further claims to have joined the US Air Force Academy as a cadet in 1958, but already left in May 1959 to join the US Marine Corps in June 1959.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref> After a one-year training, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam for four years, starting in 1960, but also claims his first mission with combat experience took him to Taiwan.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref>.

Reagan's own most important information regarding his curriculum vitae seems to be the comment his family enjoyed the reputation of being liars and raconteurs of imaginative stories.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref>

Reagan also likes to put forward the air of a fighter who is a master of several martial arts, and he is an arms freak. Besides 'spiritual' teachings, his students receive a training in an alleged Indian martial art. His various claims – like e.g. he was a substitute for the 1964 US Judo team and won a fourth place at the Olympics – were, meticulously and comprehensively, debunked at the website of Bullshido.org in 2007 already. This also applies to Reagan's account of being a highly decorated soldier: from 1960, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam, then fought Communist guerillas in Taiwan, and to have returned to Vietnam for his third year there in 1964.<ref>http://www.bullshido.org/Claude_Harley_Reagan </ref>

Reagan's knowledge of history seems to be wanting: prior to 1965, the US army had only military advisors stationed in Vietnam, while Reagan claims to have served there as a 'gunner'. Furthermore, a Communist guerilla in Taiwan only exists in his fantasy. Additionally the US army has no records of a person by the name of Harley Reagan ever having been awarded any medals or decorations. Reagan also claims to have held a world championship in Jiu Jitsu between 1967 and 1970 – but according to his own account was in hospital up to 1968 after having been wounded in action by being shot and doing a 100 ms fall out of a helicopter.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839</ref>

It becomes quite clear that Reagan apparently is an embarassing showboater unimpressed by facts who believes no claim too absurde for an attempt to brush up his image.

==Martial arts training and extremist right ideology==
[[image:DTGC.jpg|Deer Tribe Gun Club|350px|thumb]]
From 1986 on (according to DT sites), he starts calling himself Harley „Swiftdeer“ Reagan and later on „Thunder Strikes“. In the USA, Deer Tribe has the status of a „cult and militia“.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2208.0 </ref> Reagan teaches his students a mix of extremist right ideology, martial arts, and allegedly secret indigenous ceremonies. Reagan's students do not always mention Deer Tribe or Reagan on their sites, but make use of the catchwords of „Twisted Hairs“ and/or „Sweet Medicine Sundance Path“, as well as Chuluaqui Qoudoushka, Reagan's doctrine of supposedly spiritual sexuality.

DT in the USA also maintains a „gun club“ site <ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub.htm </ref>, offers a regular arms training and publishes lists of results.<ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub/matchresults.php </ref> Reagan chose the name of „Chulukua-Ryu“ for his martial art and explains it was developed by several Indian peoples over millenia.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref> Certainly, they will not have named it with the Japanese term „ryu“.

Reagan also recommends students to train in shooting firearms and in martial arts in order to get prepared for a forthcoming 'racial war' against immigrants from Middle and South America.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref> Reagan does not explain how he is able to combine this point of view with an alleged status as Native American – especially since he claims Mayan descent -, and apparently this question is not being raised within DT, either.

Another indication for an extremist right ideology cultivated within DT is an appeal written by Reagan prior to the presidential elections in 2000, in which Reagan quite unabashedly called for DT members and militias to start armed combat in case Al Gore was elected into office.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467 </ref> In this appeal, Reagan adopts the moniker of „The Shooting Shaman“ and also signs the appeal accordingly.<ref>There was no similar appeal when Barack Obama was voted in. According to reports, Reagan is suffering from a tumour; whether the progression of this disease is due to his silence in this matter, however, cannot be established.</ref>

The US website of DT explains:
:''„Integrated self-defense and self-reliance, or overall preparedness, consists of three facets: self defense, survival (both wilderness and urban), and firearms training.'' 
:''These series of self reliance courses was started in 1985 as the „Way of the Warrior Workshops,“ designed to promote physical mastery and presented by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). DTMMS was founded in 1986 by HarleySwiftDeer Reagan; he and his wife Dianne Reagan are the chief instructors. [Note to SMSD apprentices: this corresponds to the Black Lodge program.] 
:''Currently, we offer an annual intensive training in self-defense and the safe and effective handling of firearms.“'' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/index.htm</ref>

There is, however, no detailed information at the US DT site or at the European sites regarding this Black Lodge Programme. The US site also does not mention it in their list of content, quite unlike the Red-Lodge-Programme.

Training with firearms is also not mentioned in the official description of courses offered by European DT branches. Courses in martial arts, however, seem compulsory in order to advance in the so-called 'Gateway' hierarchy of DT. One example is the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defence“ in April 2010 which explains: ''„The training is equivalent to the Black Lodge Standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of this week you will receive a certificate about 45 hours of Black Lodge training. You will be credited entirely with these hours for your self defence resp. gateway process“''.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

Presumably DT does not want to be too precise in public statements about this part of their training. Whether the fundamentally different legislation of most European countries regarding possession of and training with firearms is observed and realized by DT remains unclear.

Apparently DT also cultivates a view of self-defence which differs considerably from the usual perception existing in martial arts: 
''„Current research confirms what Harley SwiftDeer has taught for over 20 years: your best option is to fight. But proper training is essential!“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm</ref>

Once more, Reagan is not able to abstain from enhancing his merit and maintains:
''„These profiles, and the corresponding techniques for stopping these predators, are based on Harley SwiftDeer's thesis, which included in-person interviews of 150 imprisoned rapists and 150 rape victims, studies of actual police reports, and many years of refinement to find the most effective self-defense techniques. Most rape prevention courses in existence today are based on Harley SwiftDeer's original research (also known as psychological rape awareness and Personal Protection Awareness Training [PPAT]).“''<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm </ref>

==„Alternative“ Methods of Healing==
At their US website, DT also promotes alternative healing methods as well as the application of 'ceremonial alchemy' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/</ref> which does not get explained any further.

==The System of Courses==
At the US site at least it becomes apparent that students will enter into a system of courses building on each other, the so-called 'Gateway Process'.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref> Its first level is comprised of a four-year training of which each year has to be booked separately. The advertising text contains extensive promises regarding the personal development of students allegedly caused by the course: 
''„We teach you how to connect with your inner intent, to access different levels of consciousness, to enter heightened awareness, to have happiness, harmony, health, connection and meaning in your life. We teach you how you function as an energy field, and explain the building blocks and energy laws of different dimensional realities.''

''We want you to become an inquisitive free-thinking autonomous individual who takes responsibility for your life and lives it to the fullest. We will empower you and provide a safe journey within a circle of friends who share a desire to make a difference, to take their power and grow up into their highest potential. It is a great journey – but you must do the walking. You must have the willingness to change and make the leap into the next level of human evolution.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref>

It is also apparent that students will be integrated into a system which facilitates their being controlled: in study groups and lodges.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref> Study groups are attributed as the „nucleus family of our tribe“, while lodges are said to be the „clans of our tribe“.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref>

At the same time, interested parties are informed what lies ahead of them if they happen to fail:
''„Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained and added to the even growing body of knowledge. Those that do not hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human enlightenment.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/lineage.htm</ref>

Reagan and DT work with a concept of human advancement which, as the above quote reveals, is not open to every person but apparently only to an elite. This does not only cause a close bond to the system, but also admonishes failure into the realm of individual responsibility. Likewise, internal critics who have developed doubts in the system may be dismissed as 'not chosen' and 'not enlightened'.

==So-called sSpiritual Sexuality==
„Chuluaqui Qoudushka“, or „Qoudoushka“ - sometimes abbreviated to „Q“ by adherents – is an allegedly indigenous system of spiritual sexuality and respective rituals which is taught by DT in courses building on another.

In these courses, participants apparently are broken mentally and pushed into compliance by having to perform various forms of sexual intercourse coram publico.<ref>cf. an article and interview with Reagan published by Phoenix New Times in 2002: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-12/news/sacred-orgasm/1 </ref> The same article also mentions Reagan hires prostitutes for his courses when the number of male participants having booked the course exceeds the number of female participants.

Initially, Reagan declared these alleged teachings to be secret rituals of the Cherokee. When the Cherokee sharply protested Reagan's fantastic ideas, he adapted his explanation of their origins and meanwhile cites an alleged inter-ethnic medicine society, the „Twisted Hairs“: ''"The tradition of the Twisted Hairs on the American continent (north and south) dates back several thousands of years, and has its actual origin also in the lore of the wise of Mu, Lemuria, Mehyun, and Atlantis“''.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm</ref> Reagan and DT here fall victim to a misconception quite popular in New Age circles: the alleged existence of intertribal medicine persons or societies in Native American ethnicities.<ref>The sexual practices to which course participants are made to submit earned Reagan a nickname in the English speaking parts of Indian Country: "Swift Dick".</ref>

==The extension of Deer Tribe==
[[image:DT1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:DT2.jpg|350px|thumb]]
Given the outrageous theories and derivations, the historical misrepresentations, and the embarassingly transparent improvements of his curriculum vitae, it rather comes as a surprise that Reagan should have been able to attract supporters in the first place. In an interview dated June 2002, Reagan claims 5,000 followers in the USA and several European countries.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref>

A presumably official DT site informs about events taking place in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms-europe.com/events_by_country.php </ref>, the US site additionally mentions events in Canada, and claims further DT branches in Australia, England, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/locations.htm#europe</ref>

In the German speaking countries, there are several vendors offering Reagan's alleged teachings to a paying clientele.<ref>e.g. http://www.dtmms-europe.com , http://www.dreamers.ch/dreamers.php , http://www.oneheartwarriors.at , http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref> „Lust und Wissen“ [lust and knowledge] e.g. cover the following issues: „Chuluaqui-Quodoushka – Spiritual Sexuality; Women Ways – women's knowledge; Body-Dearmoring; Resculpting; Being parents and assisting children; Men's Mountain Time; Calendar; Skwanesie Lodge; Circle of the Year; Open Ceremonial Days; Eagle Dance; Sweatlodge Ceremony; Paths of Life“.<ref>http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref>

Vendors of DT seminars in German speaking countries are e.g.:
*Norbert Gold aka „Batty“ Gold aka ThunderBear
*Rose Fink aka ThunderEagle
Both are Austrian citizens and have been living at the DT HQ in Arizona for a long time before they returned to Europe.
From 2001 to 2005, Gold was mentioned as an authorized signatory of Swiss foundation „Sweet Medicine Metis Sundance Foundation“; his residence was Scottsdale, USA at first.<ref>cf. http://www.edoceo.ch/de/sweet_medicine_metis_sundance_stiftung_CH16070039675.aspx</ref> Gold and Fink also organize DT seminars at the ZEGG premises at Belzig (cf. further down). 
A website apparently maintained for Gold and Fink mentions Gold is active in DT since 1983, Fink since 1986.<ref>cf. http//www.quodoushka.info/rub.php </ref>

Sabina Tschudi aka Sabina Crystal Cave Dreamer and Johannes Schröder aka Johannes Star Licht Carrier [sic] (real-life name presumably Uwe Johannes Schröder) offer seminars in Switzerland and Germany, and maintain the Stardreamer Lodge. Tschudi also launched the above mentioned foundation.

Johanna Nickl aka Johanna StarCrow Nickl and Karsten Guschke aka Karsten FireFox Guschke maintain the Skwanesie Lodge which has the same postal address as [[ZEGG]] in Belzig (several websites state Guschke's e-mail address as „...@zegg...“); another person mentioned is Andrea Moonstar Mrosla.

Brigitte Kimmerle aka Gray Burro maintains the Mirrordancer Lodge and used to be in charge of the European DT site (and possibly still is, as the site is still up but does not seem to be updated too often).

Austrian Wolfram Reiter aka WolfRaven OneHeartedStandingMountain maintains the Warriors Lodge.

==Cooperation with other suppliers on the [[Esotericism|esoteric]] market==
Since a few years, several „teachers“ attached to DT organise seminars in the ZEGG premises in the town of Belzig [ZEGG = Centre for Experimental Cultural Design] which are announced as a „hosted event“ at the ZEGG website. Among these are seminars on the subject of so-called Quodoushka.<ref>e.g.: http://www.zegg.de/index.php?april</ref> Cooperation with ZEGG apparently is due to certain ideological parellels in the domain of sexuality. Detailed information on ZEGG is provided by a meticulous in-depth study titled „ZEGGsismus“.<ref>http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html</ref>

Although training with firearms is not visible in the published range of items of the European DT branches, martial arts seminars seem compulsory to advance in the „gateway“ hierarchy of DT: the course description of the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defense“ in April 2010 informs interested parties:
„''This training corresponds to Black Lodge standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of the week, you will receive a certificate about 45 Black Lodge training units. These units will be fully included into your achievements as martial arts or self-defence in your gateway process''“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|en=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society}}

==Sources==
<references/>

Fotos:
*Reagan: http://www.ten-no-kishi.com/
*Gold und Fink: :http://www.quodoushka.info/rub.php and in a younger age: http://www.adlerin.at/quod.rosebatty.php
*Tschudi und Schröder: http://www.dreamers.ch/Wer%20sind%20wir/Wer%20wir%20sind.php
*Nickl, Guschke, Mrosla: http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de/ueber-uns.phtml
*Wolfram Reiter: http://www.oneheartwarriors.at/wolfram_reiter_wolfrabe
*Brigitte Kimmerle: http://brigitte-kimmerle.de/default.aspx

[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Deer Tribe

2015-11-18T17:10:54Z

Halbmond: /* Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan */

The '''Deer Tribe''', or Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DT), claims the status of an ethnic group with its name, but it is an artificial association with cult character. Persons willing to join do not need to prove a certain ethnic affiliation or descendence, but must rather submit to a system of courses. Deer Tribe sells a system of courses building on each other, in which students eventually will advance to higher grades of initiation; these courses will incur a fee.

==Formation of Deer Tribe==
[[image:Soke_Reagan.jpg|Harley "Soke" Reagan|thumb]]
Deer Tribe was founded in 1986 by Harley Reagan (a Swiss DT-site, however, claims it was founded „by the end of the 70ies“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Zeremonialmedizin/Deer%20tribe%20Metis%20Medicine%20Society.php</ref>)
Its legend and name have been adjusted several times meanwhile. Although the name suggests it is an indigenous ethnic group or association, this does not correspond with facts. The term 'Métis' is used in Canada, where it describes a state recognized ethnic group with its own culture and language (Michif); in the USA, this term has experienced an increased use as of late, but it is mostly used by persons claiming indigenous ancestry which usually is said to have happened several generations before and usually cannot be verified or documented.

Reagan first posed as a Cherokee and claimed to teach secret Cherokee rituals; in reality, red-haired Reagan is a US-American of Irish descent. After the Cherokee nation clarified Reagan was no Cherokee and that his 'teachings' had nothing to do at all with Cherokee spirituality, he adjusted his legend. Since then, he claims a descent from Cherokee and Maya; his 'teachings' then became an alleged conglomerate of spiritual traditions of several peoples, especially of Maya, Olmec, and Toltecs. Furthermore, Reagan presumably meant to realign to other, already established New-Age vendors and perhaps become attractive to their respective clientele, too, since Reagan took up the terms 'tonal' and 'nagual' launched by Carlos Castaneda, and also claimed to have studied with an alleged Navaho 'shaman' who he says is identical with the Don Gennaro character in Castaneda's books.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm </ref>

==Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan==
Neither the DT websites nor Wikipedia are able to come up with a curriculum vitae. Research is difficult, as Reagan himself presented lots of divergent and contradictory information. A date or year of birth is not available for Reagan; however, the exact day of his passing - September 10, 2013<ref>http://www.forevermissed.com/harley-swiftdeer-reagan#about </ref> - is rendered.

By his own account, Reagan was born in Texas. He further claims to have joined the US Air Force Academy as a cadet in 1958, but already left in May 1959 to join the US Marine Corps in June 1959.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref> After a one-year training, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam for four years, starting in 1960, but also claims his first mission with combat experience took him to Taiwan.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref>.

Reagan's own most important information regarding his curriculum vitae seems to be the comment his family enjoyed the reputation of being liars and raconteurs of imaginative stories.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref>

Reagan also likes to put forward the air of a fighter who is a master of several martial arts, and he is an arms freak. Besides 'spiritual' teachings, his students receive a training in an alleged Indian martial art. His various claims – like e.g. he was a substitute for the 1964 US Judo team and won a fourth place at the Olympics – were, meticulously and comprehensively, debunked at the website of Bullshido.org in 2007 already. This also applies to Reagan's account of being a highly decorated soldier: from 1960, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam, then fought Communist guerillas in Taiwan, and to have returned to Vietnam for his third year there in 1964.<ref>http://www.bullshido.org/Claude_Harley_Reagan </ref>

Reagan's knowledge of history seems to be wanting: prior to 1965, the US army had only military advisors stationed in Vietnam, while Reagan claims to have served there as a 'gunner'. Furthermore, a Communist guerilla in Taiwan only exists in his fantasy. Additionally the US army has no records of a person by the name of Harley Reagan ever having been awarded any medals or decorations. Reagan also claims to have held a world championship in Jiu Jitsu between 1967 and 1970 – but according to his own account was in hospital up to 1968 after having been wounded in action by being shot and doing a 100 ms fall out of a helicopter.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839</ref>

It becomes quite clear that Reagan apparently is an embarassing showboater unimpressed by facts who believes no claim too absurde for an attempt to brush up his image.

==Martial arts training and extremist right ideology==
[[image:DTGC.jpg|Deer Tribe Gun Club|350px|thumb]]
From 1986 on (according to DT sites), he starts calling himself Harley „Swiftdeer“ Reagan and later on „Thunder Strikes“. In the USA, Deer Tribe has the status of a „cult and militia“.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2208.0 </ref> Reagan teaches his students a mix of extremist right ideology, martial arts, and allegedly secret indigenous ceremonies. Reagan's students do not always mention Deer Tribe or Reagan on their sites, but make use of the catchwords of „Twisted Hairs“ and/or „Sweet Medicine Sundance Path“, as well as Chuluaqui Qoudoushka, Reagan's doctrine of supposedly spiritual sexuality.

DT in the USA also maintains a „gun club“ site <ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub.htm </ref>, offers a regular arms training and publishes lists of results.<ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub/matchresults.php </ref> Reagan chose the name of „Chulukua-Ryu“ for his martial art and explains it was developed by several Indian peoples over millenia.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref> Certainly, they will not have named it with the Japanese term „ryu“.

Reagan also recommends students to train in shooting firearms and in martial arts in order to get prepared for a forthcoming 'racial war' against immigrants from Middle and South America.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref> Reagan does not explain how he is able to combine this point of view with an alleged status as Native American – especially since he claims Mayan descent -, and apparently this question is not being raised within DT, either.

Another indication for an extremist right ideology cultivated within DT is an appeal written by Reagan prior to the presidential elections in 2000, in which Reagan quite unabashedly called for DT members and militias to start armed combat in case Al Gore was elected into office.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467 </ref> In this appeal, Reagan adopts the moniker of „The Shooting Shaman“ and also signs the appeal accordingly.<ref>There was no similar appeal when Barack Obama was voted in. According to reports, Reagan is suffering from a tumour; whether the progression of this disease is due to his silence in this matter, however, cannot be established.</ref>

The US website of DT explains:
:''„Integrated self-defense and self-reliance, or overall preparedness, consists of three facets: self defense, survival (both wilderness and urban), and firearms training.'' 
:''These series of self reliance courses was started in 1985 as the „Way of the Warrior Workshops,“ designed to promote physical mastery and presented by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). DTMMS was founded in 1986 by HarleySwiftDeer Reagan; he and his wife Dianne Reagan are the chief instructors. [Note to SMSD apprentices: this corresponds to the Black Lodge program.] 
:''Currently, we offer an annual intensive training in self-defense and the safe and effective handling of firearms.“'' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/index.htm</ref>

There is, however, no detailed information at the US DT site or at the European sites regarding this Black Lodge Programme. The US site also does not mention it in their list of content, quite unlike the Red-Lodge-Programme.

Training with firearms is also not mentioned in the official description of courses offered by European DT branches. Courses in martial arts, however, seem compulsory in order to advance in the so-called 'Gateway' hierarchy of DT. One example is the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defence“ in April 2010 which explains: ''„The training is equivalent to the Black Lodge Standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of this week you will receive a certificate about 45 hours of Black Lodge training. You will be credited entirely with these hours for your self defence resp. gateway process“''.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

Presumably DT does not want to be too precise in public statements about this part of their training. Whether the fundamentally different legislation of most European countries regarding possession of and training with firearms is observed and realized by DT remains unclear.

Apparently DT also cultivates a view of self-defence which differs considerably from the usual perception existing in martial arts: 
''„Current research confirms what Harley SwiftDeer has taught for over 20 years: your best option is to fight. But proper training is essential!“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm</ref>

Once more, Reagan is not able to abstain from enhancing his merit and maintains:
''„These profiles, and the corresponding techniques for stopping these predators, are based on Harley SwiftDeer's thesis, which included in-person interviews of 150 imprisoned rapists and 150 rape victims, studies of actual police reports, and many years of refinement to find the most effective self-defense techniques. Most rape prevention courses in existence today are based on Harley SwiftDeer's original research (also known as psychological rape awareness and Personal Protection Awareness Training [PPAT]).“''<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm </ref>

==„Alternative“ Methods of Healing==
At their US website, DT also promotes alternative healing methods as well as the application of 'ceremonial alchemy' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/</ref> which does not get explained any further.

==The System of Courses==
At the US site at least it becomes apparent that students will enter into a system of courses building on each other, the so-called 'Gateway Process'.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref> Its first level is comprised of a four-year training of which each year has to be booked separately. The advertising text contains extensive promises regarding the personal development of students allegedly caused by the course: 
''„We teach you how to connect with your inner intent, to access different levels of consciousness, to enter heightened awareness, to have happiness, harmony, health, connection and meaning in your life. We teach you how you function as an energy field, and explain the building blocks and energy laws of different dimensional realities.''

''We want you to become an inquisitive free-thinking autonomous individual who takes responsibility for your life and lives it to the fullest. We will empower you and provide a safe journey within a circle of friends who share a desire to make a difference, to take their power and grow up into their highest potential. It is a great journey – but you must do the walking. You must have the willingness to change and make the leap into the next level of human evolution.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref>

It is also apparent that students will be integrated into a system which facilitates their being controlled: in study groups and lodges.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref> Study groups are attributed as the „nucleus family of our tribe“, while lodges are said to be the „clans of our tribe“.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref>

At the same time, interested parties are informed what lies ahead of them if they happen to fail:
''„Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained and added to the even growing body of knowledge. Those that do not hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human enlightenment.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/lineage.htm</ref>

Reagan and DT work with a concept of human advancement which, as the above quote reveals, is not open to every person but apparently only to an elite. This does not only cause a close bond to the system, but also admonishes failure into the realm of individual responsibility. Likewise, internal critics who have developed doubts in the system may be dismissed as 'not chosen' and 'not enlightened'.

==So-called sSpiritual Sexuality==
„Chuluaqui Qoudushka“, or „Qoudoushka“ - sometimes abbreviated to „Q“ by adherents – is an allegedly indigenous system of spiritual sexuality and respective rituals which is taught by DT in courses building on another.

In these courses, participants apparently are broken mentally and pushed into compliance by having to perform various forms of sexual intercourse coram publico.<ref>cf. an article and interview with Reagan published by Phoenix New Times in 2002: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-12/news/sacred-orgasm/1 </ref> The same article also mentions Reagan hires prostitutes for his courses when the number of male participants having booked the course exceeds the number of female participants.

Initially, Reagan declared these alleged teachings to be secret rituals of the Cherokee. When the Cherokee sharply protested Reagan's fantastic ideas, he adapted his explanation of their origins and meanwhile cites an alleged inter-ethnic medicine society, the „Twisted Hairs“: ''"The tradition of the Twisted Hairs on the American continent (north and south) dates back several thousands of years, and has its actual origin also in the lore of the wise of Mu, Lemuria, Mehyun, and Atlantis“''.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm</ref> Reagan and DT here fall victim to a misconception quite popular in New Age circles: the alleged existence of intertribal medicine persons or societies in Native American ethnicities.<ref>The sexual practices to which course participants are made to submit earned Reagan a nickname in the English speaking parts of Indian Country: "Swift Dick".</ref>

==The extension of Deer Tribe==
[[image:DT1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:DT2.jpg|350px|thumb]]
Given the outrageous theories and derivations, the historical misrepresentations, and the embarassingly transparent improvements of his curriculum vitae, it rather comes as a surprise that Reagan should have been able to attract supporters in the first place. In an interview dated June 2002, Reagan claims 5,000 followers in the USA and several European countries.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref>

A presumably official DT site informs about events taking place in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms-europe.com/events_by_country.php </ref>, the US site additionally mentions events in Canada, and claims further DT branches in Australia, England, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/locations.htm#europe</ref>

In the German speaking countries, there are several vendors offering Reagan's alleged teachings to a paying clientele.<ref>e.g. http://www.dtmms-europe.com , http://www.dreamers.ch/dreamers.php , http://www.oneheartwarriors.at , http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref> „Lust und Wissen“ [lust and knowledge] e.g. cover the following issues: „Chuluaqui-Quodoushka – Spiritual Sexuality; Women Ways – women's knowledge; Body-Dearmoring; Resculpting; Being parents and assisting children; Men's Mountain Time; Calendar; Skwanesie Lodge; Circle of the Year; Open Ceremonial Days; Eagle Dance; Sweatlodge Ceremony; Paths of Life“.<ref>http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref>

Vendors of DT seminars in German speaking countries are e.g.:
*Norbert Gold aka „Batty“ Gold aka ThunderBear
*Rose Fink aka ThunderEagle
Both are Austrian citizens and have been living at the DT HQ in Arizona for a long time before they returned to Europe.
From 2001 to 2005, Gold was mentioned as an authorized signatory of Swiss foundation „Sweet Medicine Metis Sundance Foundation“; his residence was Scottsdale, USA at first.<ref>cf. http://www.edoceo.ch/de/sweet_medicine_metis_sundance_stiftung_CH16070039675.aspx</ref> Gold and Fink also organize DT seminars at the ZEGG premises at Belzig (cf. further down). 
A website apparently maintained for Gold and Fink mentions Gold is active in DT since 1983, Fink since 1986.<ref>cf. http//www.quodoushka.info/rub.php </ref>

Sabina Tschudi aka Sabina Crystal Cave Dreamer and Johannes Schröder aka Johannes Star Licht Carrier [sic] (real-life name presumably Uwe Johannes Schröder) offer seminars in Switzerland and Germany, and maintain the Stardreamer Lodge. Tschudi also launched the above mentioned foundation.

Johanna Nickl aka Johanna StarCrow Nickl and Karsten Guschke aka Karsten FireFox Guschke maintain the Skwanesie Lodge which has the same postal address as [[ZEGG]] in Belzig (several websites state Guschke's e-mail address as „...@zegg...“); another person mentioned is Andrea Moonstar Mrosla.

Brigitte Kimmerle aka Gray Burro maintains the Mirrordancer Lodge and used to be in charge of the European DT site (and possibly still is, as the site is still up but does not seem to be updated too often).

Austrian Wolfram Reiter aka WolfRaven OneHeartedStandingMountain maintains the Warriors Lodge.

==Cooperation with other suppliers on the [[Esotericism|esoteric]] market==
Since a few years, several „teachers“ attached to DT organise seminars in the ZEGG premises in the town of Belzig [ZEGG = Centre for Experimental Cultural Design] which are announced as a „hosted event“ at the ZEGG website. Among these are seminars on the subject of so-called Quodoushka.<ref>e.g.: http://www.zegg.de/index.php?april</ref> Cooperation with ZEGG apparently is due to certain ideological parellels in the domain of sexuality. Detailed information on ZEGG is provided by a meticulous in-depth study titled „ZEGGsismus“.<ref>http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html</ref>

Although training with firearms is not visible in the published range of items of the European DT branches, martial arts seminars seem compulsory to advance in the „gateway“ hierarchy of DT: the course description of the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defense“ in April 2010 informs interested parties:
„''This training corresponds to Black Lodge standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of the week, you will receive a certificate about 45 Black Lodge training units. These units will be fully included into your achievements as martial arts or self-defence in your gateway process''“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|en=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society}}

==Sources==
<references/>

Fotos:
*Reagan: http://www.ten-no-kishi.com/
*Gold und Fink: :http://www.quodoushka.info/rub.php and in a younger age: http://www.adlerin.at/quod.rosebatty.php
*Tschudi und Schröder: http://www.dreamers.ch/Wer%20sind%20wir/Wer%20wir%20sind.php
*Nickl, Guschke, Mrosla: http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de/ueber-uns.phtml
*Wolfram Reiter: http://www.oneheartwarriors.at/wolfram_reiter_wolfrabe
*Brigitte Kimmerle: http://brigitte-kimmerle.de/default.aspx

[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Wayne Simmons

2015-10-18T17:03:51Z

Halbmond: /* References */

Wayne Simmons is an American citizen and meanwhile an indicted fraud. Like [[Steven Emerson]], he was a frequent pundit on Fox News.

Simmons invented an impressive curriculum vitae which is fake. His claims to have been a CIA outside paramilitary special operations officer likewise are not based on facts, and his further claims to have been working for the CIA for 27 years is another lie. These claims and allegations were the basis of his claims of expertise which were accepted by Fox News and apparently the US government, too, since Simmons worked as a subcontractor for the government several times. None of his allegations and claims were ever revealed by examinations done for security clearance.

Simmons' fraudulent claims were revealed when he was arrested for making false statements, major fraud against the US, and wire fraud by the FBI in 2015. Media also report Simmons had received several convictions previously and now was detained as investigators discovered two guns during the arrest, despite of an earlier conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/he-claimed-to-be-ex-cia-and-was-quoted-as-an-expert-on-fox-news-prosecutors-say-it-was-a-lie/2015/10/15/eb1b7818-7345-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html</ref> Some media spoke of a "significant criminal history, including convictions for a crime of violence and firearm offenses".<ref>http://www.mediaite.com/online/fox-news-guest-arrested-charged-with-lying-about-cia-ties/</ref>

A further charge against Simmons refers to a scam in which he convinced another person to place a $ 125,000 real estate investment with him but used the money for personal expenses.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/he-claimed-to-be-ex-cia-and-was-quoted-as-an-expert-on-fox-news-prosecutors-say-it-was-a-lie/2015/10/15/eb1b7818-7345-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html</ref>

Simmons particularly covered issues in the fields of islamophobia, Eurabia etc., and e.g. demanded the systematic racial profiling of persons of persons from countries of origin with a Muslim majority. He also called for having "American traitors" executed by firing squads. Having been active as an alleged expert for some 13 years, Simmons in many cases took up extremist right views, introducing them to a mainstream audience and serving to give credence to such views and even to conspiracy theories.

== Links ==

* http://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/fox_news_gets_suckered_11_outrageous_lies_by_their_terror_analyst_who_was_was_actually_a_con_man/

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Wayne}}

[[Category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Wayne Simmons

2015-10-18T17:03:31Z

Halbmond:

Wayne Simmons is an American citizen and meanwhile an indicted fraud. Like [[Steven Emerson]], he was a frequent pundit on Fox News.

Simmons invented an impressive curriculum vitae which is fake. His claims to have been a CIA outside paramilitary special operations officer likewise are not based on facts, and his further claims to have been working for the CIA for 27 years is another lie. These claims and allegations were the basis of his claims of expertise which were accepted by Fox News and apparently the US government, too, since Simmons worked as a subcontractor for the government several times. None of his allegations and claims were ever revealed by examinations done for security clearance.

Simmons' fraudulent claims were revealed when he was arrested for making false statements, major fraud against the US, and wire fraud by the FBI in 2015. Media also report Simmons had received several convictions previously and now was detained as investigators discovered two guns during the arrest, despite of an earlier conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/he-claimed-to-be-ex-cia-and-was-quoted-as-an-expert-on-fox-news-prosecutors-say-it-was-a-lie/2015/10/15/eb1b7818-7345-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html</ref> Some media spoke of a "significant criminal history, including convictions for a crime of violence and firearm offenses".<ref>http://www.mediaite.com/online/fox-news-guest-arrested-charged-with-lying-about-cia-ties/</ref>

A further charge against Simmons refers to a scam in which he convinced another person to place a $ 125,000 real estate investment with him but used the money for personal expenses.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/he-claimed-to-be-ex-cia-and-was-quoted-as-an-expert-on-fox-news-prosecutors-say-it-was-a-lie/2015/10/15/eb1b7818-7345-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html</ref>

Simmons particularly covered issues in the fields of islamophobia, Eurabia etc., and e.g. demanded the systematic racial profiling of persons of persons from countries of origin with a Muslim majority. He also called for having "American traitors" executed by firing squads. Having been active as an alleged expert for some 13 years, Simmons in many cases took up extremist right views, introducing them to a mainstream audience and serving to give credence to such views and even to conspiracy theories.

== Links ==

* http://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/fox_news_gets_suckered_11_outrageous_lies_by_their_terror_analyst_who_was_was_actually_a_con_man/

==References==
< references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Wayne}}

[[Category:Conspiracy Theorist]]

Wayne Simmons

2015-10-18T15:42:04Z

Halbmond:

Main Page

2015-10-09T21:25:07Z

Halbmond: Rejected the last text change (by 127.0.0.1) and restored revision 2718 by Halbmond: get tf lost

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Psychology of Vision

2015-10-05T23:51:37Z

Halbmond: /* System of Seminars */

'''Chuck Spezzano''', full name: Charles Lee Spezzano, is an author of about 40 books in the genre of advice literature, some of which have seen translations to other languages. He is also the inventor of a so-called '''Psychology of Vision''' which he sells on the esoteric market with his wife Lency Spezzano, full name: Lenora Kay Spezzano.

==Biographical Information==

There is only little biographical data obtainable on the Spezzanos, and the biographical information spread by the Spezzanos themselves on various websites, by their publishers, and by students and propagators often varies considerably regarding important details.

===Chuck Spezzano===

According to his website, Spezzano was born in upstate New York and grew up in Pennsylvania.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography">www.psychologyofvision.com/about/chuck-lency-biography/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> However, he does not give any further details as to a date of birth or as much as the year he was born. According to information found at the site of pipl.com, he is 65 years of age, so he must have been born in 1948 or 1947.<ref>“Charles Lee Spezzano, 65 years old, Kaneohe, HI, US, Kahaluu, HI, US“ at https://pipl.com/directory/name/spezzano/charles/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Spezzano claims to have studied to become a priest, to have joined a seminary and taken temporary vows, after which he joined Bethel Park Collegiate seminary and attended Duquesne University, where he claims to have studied Philosophy and Psychology, with a B.A. obtained from this university. He then allegedly gave up his career as a priest, and obtained an M.A. in sociology at Duquesne U., followed by a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from United States International University, San Diego (today: Alliant University) in 1977.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

In another paragraph in the same biography, Spezzano claims to have done both the M.A. and the Ph.D. at USIU. Several websites mention Spezzano having worked at the Naval Drug Rehabilitation Center as a psychologist between 1973 and 1979<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren">www.robert-betz-shop.de/wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren-p-52188.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref><ref name="chuck-lency-spezzano">www.michaelditsch.de/koerper-psyche/chuck-lency-spezzano.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, while Spezzano's own website does not mention any dates of this employment apart from having left this job in the autumn of 1979 to practice privately as a Marriage, Family and Child Counselor.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

Some time after 1983, the Spezzanos moved to Hawaii where they still reside today.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

===Lency Spezzano===
Biographical data for Lency Spezzano are likewise scarce. On their own website, she claims to have received both a BSc and an MSc degree in Rehabilitation Counselling in 1975 and 1976 from the University of Arizona. This points to a date of birth about 1954. Previous employment is restricted to the information of her having „designed and administered numerous rehabilitation agencies, training programs and treatment facilities“, but her main so-called professional experience seems to be Psychology of Vision from 1984 until today.<ref>www.chuckandlencyspezzano.com/LencySpezzano.htm accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Other internet sources describe her as a „relationship therapist and author“.<ref>www.frankfurter-ring.de/index.php?id=112 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Ms Spezzano has furthermore developed "Joining" which sometimes is described as "PoV's mystical path".<ref name="povevents">www.povevents.com/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

===Grades and Licences===
As was pointed out above, there are differing versions regarding Spezzano's courses of study.

Spezzano did in fact earn a Ph.D., for a dissertation titled: „The words that love made--a poetic phenomenology of the poet's experience of being a poet“, published in 1977.<ref>http://www.worldcat.org/title/words-that-love-made-a-poetic-phenomenology-of-the-poets-experience-of-being-a-poet/oclc/18900196&referer=brief_results accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Such a thesis cannot have been written in Psychology, but rather in Philosophy in which Spezzano only claims a B.A; and the grade obtained in Psychology also seems to have been a B.A. His Master's degree was obtained in Sociology, but the actual dissertation seems inappropriate to earn a Ph.D. in this field.

Similarly varying information is displayed regarding Spezzano's actual degree in Psychology: While Spezzano's websites mention him having worked as a counsellor, other websites claim he earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren" /><ref name="chuck-lency-spezzano" />, including his German publishers<ref>http://www.randomhouse.de/Autor/Chuck_Spezzano/p105313.rhd?pub=8000 accessed 12/08/2013</ref>; the same information, however, is also provided in the book of a British author<ref>Arielle Essex: Compassionate Coaching: How to Heal Your Life and Make Miracles Happen. June 2004, p.</ref>

While claiming to have had a private practice as a psychologist in Californa between 1979 and 1983, information obtainable points to a licence as a „marriage and family therapist“ obtained in the state of California in 1980, quite in congruence with having given up employment at the Naval Rehab Center in 1979. However, this licence expired May 31, 1990 without any renewal.<ref>http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllqryna$lcev2.startup?p_qte_code=LX&p_qte_pgm_code=1800 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> The present licence held for the Spezzano enterprise is for a „Spezzano and Associates, Limited“, issued November 15, 1990 in Hawaii.<ref>http://hbe.ehawaii.gov/documents/business.html?fileNumber=81992D1 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> A licence as a psychologist of whatever specialisation cannot be verified for the state of Hawaii.

An investigative documentary broadcast by Canadian TV station APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) aired on November 9, 2013<ref>http://aptn.ca/pages/news/category/investigates/ accessed 10/11/2013</ref> revealed that neither Chuck nor Lency Spezzano were in a position to call themselves "psychologist"; in fact, in a telecon prior to November 9, Spezzano told the TV station he did not claim the title of a psychologist and went by the lable of "coach".
The TV station also informed the audience that both Chuck and Lency Spezzano were fined by Hawaiian authorities for posing as psychologists in documents used in a custody case, claiming they were licenced Family and Marriage Therapists.<ref>http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/11/09/couple-questions-alternative-healing-groups-activities-haida-gwaii/ accessed 10/11/2013</ref> <ref>http://www.kimberry.com/tipaldi/steve1.html accessed 10/11/2013</ref>

===Esoteric Influences===
In his biography, Spezzano repeatedly mentions to have come into contact with various methods and techniques promoted on the Newage markets, in particular in the fields of commercial life-counseling and self-optimising, and integrated methods and concepts encountered there into his own concept.

According to his own account, he took „his first program seminar call [sic] Lifespring“ when employed at the Naval Drug Rehab Center, i.e. between 1973 and 1977.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> During the same period, he also became involved with „A Course in Miracles“ allegedly pointed out to him by a colleague.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> After 1979, when working as a private practitioner, Spezzano says he volunteered „as a trainer with ARAS, a workshop company with spiritual dimensions“.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />
A further step is mentioned with: „In 1982 and 1983 he also taught at the Tubb Wholestic [sic] Health Institute in Southern California...“.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> More recently, Spezzano integrated some ideas and practices from the so-called Oneness Movement into the framework of Psychology of Vision.

It must be pointed out that both Lifespring's (now presumably defunct) and A Course in Miracles' activities took place in the field of commerical life counselling, selling courses for personal development and advancement and urging participants to recruit further customers, including targeting their social environment. The Oneness Movement, on the other hand, is selling courses teaching a spirituality based on Eastern thought. Their goal is advancement and enlightenment on a personal level as well as creating a class of individuals privileged by enlightenment, thus indicating a probable totalitarian development and its embracement of the approach of creating super-humans.

====Lifespring====
Lifespring was founded in 1974 by John Hanley as a for-profit New Age resp. Human Potential company selling respective courses; it claims more than 400,000 persons participated in their trainings in the USA. Courses were organised in the three-level program with a "Basic" training, an "Advanced" course, and a three-months "Leadership Program".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifespring accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

There were at least 30 lawsuits against Lifespring, most of which seem to have been settled out of court. However, a 1984 lawsuit awarded $ 800,000 to a person who was hospitalised with mental problems following a Lifespring training. Both a 1992 and a 1993 lawsuit due to mental problems arising in the aftermath of Lifespring trainings were successful, too. At least one lawsuit in 1982 was led over the suicide of a course participant and settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.<ref>http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=983&Itemid=12&limit=1&limitstart=7 accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

The majority of Lifespring students are said to have had a very good education and belonged to the class of so-called Yuppies whom Lifespring promised more success and more happiness. At the same time, Lifespring attempted to convince large companies to have their employees trained by them to have their productivity and ethics increased. An independent study of Lifespring courses in 1981 said that the training systematically undermined the functioning of the ego, reduced the ability of critical thinking in participants, and caused an increasing dependency of participants from the views of their trainer.<ref>Bärbel Schwertfeger: Der Griff nach der Psyche. Was umstrittene Persönlichkeitstrainer in Unternehmen anrichten. 1998, p. 91f</ref>

====A Course in Miracles====
"A Course In Miracles" is the title of a book "scribed" by research psychologist Helen Schucman who claimed the book was channeled to her by Jesus. In her book, Schucman thus presents a re-interpretation of Christian religion, claiming Jesus wanted less suffering, less sacrifice, less separation, and less sacrament, but more love and forgiveness.<ref name="skepdic">http://www.skepdic.com/cim.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref> ACIM is promoted by two organisations, the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) and the Foundation for a Course in Miracles (FACIM), both selling books, seminars, audio- and videotapes, workshops, and seminars.<ref name="skepdic" />

Christian criticism of ACIM points to the fact that it contradicts basic tenets of Christian faith, employs Christian terminology to redefine it with Newage teachings, and supports Newage and occult ideas.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Course_in_Miracles accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

====Oneness====
This is a movement founded by Vijay Kumar, and Indian citizen, who goes by the title of "Kalki Bhagavan". The movement is led by Kumar and his wife, who are addressed as "Sri Amma Bhagavan" by students and followers.<ref name="Bhagavan">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki_Bhagavan accessed 13/09/2013</ref> The movement has spread to Europe and the USA from an initial Ashram in India. Meanwhile, a temple has been built for an alleged amount of $75 million, and Kumar also operates a "Oneness University" in India, selling advanced courses and trainings.<ref name="Bhagavan" /> Basic courses, like e.g. a training as a so-called Deeksha [blessing] giver, are also done in the USA and European countries.<ref> see e.g. www.deeksha.ch/mainpage/plaintext/onenessdeeksha/diegruender/index.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref><ref>oneness-deutschland.de/uedasprojekt.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

According to a website promoting the movement, both Kumar and his wife did not need a process of spiritual maturing, but were born in a state of oneness with all life and with the obligation to lead humankind to its awakening. Therefore, Kumar and his wife were the male and female aspect of an avatarian consciousness to aid the awakening of humankind.<ref>www.deeksha.ch/mainpage/plaintext/onenessdeeksha/diegruender/index.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

==Author and Lecturer==
Spezzano has written some 40 books of advice literature, many of which have seen translations into other languages. So e.g. there are about 30 of his books presently available in German language. A large part of these were written on partnership problems, presenting advice how to realise and maintain happy relationships or to cope with failed relationships, how to build up durable partnerships etc.

These books are being promoted by Spezzano giving lectures e.g. at Newage congresses in Europe. In February 2013, he did a seminar during the Basel Psi Days in Switzerland, an established annual congress which is being organised by Basel Psi Association since years. The title of this seminar was „What do happy people do differently“, with a fee of CHF 600 being charged from participants, its contents were announced as: 
''How to heal problems with the power of love, how to dissolve mechanisms of defence. This requires us to accept and love ourselves in the first place. We can heal disease, mental and psychological problems once we recognise our subconscious patterns. With both group and individual processes, Chuck Spezzano supports us in detectng and dissolving these limiting patterns, in healing chronic problems, and to introduce joy and happiness back into our lives.''<ref name="bpv.ch">www.bpv.ch/content/referenten/Spezzano.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

From September 26-29, 2013, Spezzano will be giving a seminar in Zurich, Switzerland titled „Healing begins in the Heart“, at a fee of CHF 570.<ref>www.imlicht.ch/data/html/bil_2013b_web.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

On October 28, 2013, Spezzano will make an appearance at the annual Bleep Congress in Germany, this year organised in the town of Leverkusen, and do a one-day workshop „How to create a Happy Relationship“ at € 120.<ref>www.bleepkongress.de/referenten-2013/drchuckspezzano accessed 12/09/2013</ref> This congress was spurred by the film „What the Bleep do we know“<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Bleep_Do_We_Know!%3F accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, written and produced by several persons from „Ramtha's School of Enlightenment“<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramtha%27s_School_of_Enlightenment accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, which has been described as cult-like. Although most of the lecturers invited to these congresses come from German-speaking countries, they also had international guests like William Arntz, the producer of the film and student of Ramtha's School, and [[Masaru Emoto]] in 2008, and plastic shaman [[J. Reuben Silverbird]] in 2011.<ref>www.bleepkongress.de/rueckblick/referenten-2011 accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Further seminars in Europe will take place in Frankfurt and Hamburg, with more seminars and trainings being announced for Hawaii and Canada.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/chuck-spezzano/ accessed 12/08/2013</ref>

===Healing Keys===

Although most of Spezzano's books deal with partnership and partnership problems, he also co-authored a book with Janie Ticehurst (or Janie E. Patrick) titled "Healing the Body Through Mind and Metaphor". The book is still available from Spezzano's website, while Ticehurst is selling the e-book version through her site.<ref>www.healingkeys.com/index.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref> While the co-author's name is "Ticehurst" for the e-book, the original paper version seems to have been written at a point in time prior to Ticehurst's marriage under her maiden name of Janie E. Patrick.

The authors claim that a multitude of diseases can be healed with a combination of Keys which they also list:
:''Bonding, Choice, Family Role, Forgiveness, Gifts, Grace, Integration, Letting Go, Love and Bonding Exercise, Purpose, Trust, Truth, Understanding, Willingness.''<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130915043622/http://healingkeys.com/KeyAtoZ.htm</ref> <ref>www.healingkeys.com/KeyAtoZ.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref>

However, some of the diseases the authors recommend to be treated with their set of keys are severe and patients suffering from such diseases should rather go to see an MD: e.g. ALS, AIDS, Appendicitis, Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, Epilepsy, Heart Attack, Hepatitis, Jaundice, Leukemia, Lymphoma Hodgkin's Disease, Meningitis.<ref name="healingkeys">https://web.archive.org/web/20130915052756/http://healingkeys.com/MetaphorAtoZ.htm</ref> <ref>www.healingkeys.com/MetaphorAtoZ.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref>

The authors claim:
:''Cancer involves the transformation of healthy functioning cells into malignant, or harmful, cells. The altered cells transfer faulty information to their offspring, and the cancerous cells grow in an abnormal and destructive way.
:''Cancer is the embodiment of self-directed anger. It reflects a place of guilt and self-attack.
:''A traumatic situation with a significant other will have taken place between six and eighteen months before the onset of the cancer.
:''At some level, it is an attack on another through self-harm. It highlights that we have a need to give that has gone wild, or is completely misplaced, in addition to a fear of our purpose.[...]
:''Tumors encapsulate our repressed anger, malice and conflicting, hidden belief systems.
:''We are trying to shelter our pain or disappointment and are attempting to hold back negative self-beliefs and evil self-concepts. These mistaken beliefs and self-concepts stem from unresolved emotional fractures and broken hearts.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

This approach clearly lays the blame for a disease on the diseased who is responsible for it. The same is true for handicaps, of which the authors e.g. list Birth Defects, Deafness, or Down's Syndrome. Birth defects are said to represent ''unfinished business from ancestral patterns and/or a past life metaphor. We are being called to heal this soul level issue.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

Their approach to deafness is:
:''It signifies that there is something that we don’t want to hear either about relationship (left ear), or career (right ear).
:''We have a fear of our purpose, and there is something that we are refusing to learn. There is an area where we have cut ourselves off, which is holding us back from joining the dance of life.
:''Because we want to do things our way, there is something we don’t want to hear from others or from within. Deafness means we have some stubbornness and unwillingness to listen and communicate.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

The explanation for Down's Syndrome is:
:''If we have Down’s syndrome, it means that we have come to learn some lessons at a soul level. We are here to seek soul fulfillment and the completion of a cycle, yet we are stuck in the transition between the old level and the new.
:''The two main soul lessons of Down’s syndrome are correcting over-willfulness and giving up the ego’s plan in exchange for heaven’s plan.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

The authors constantly lay the blame for disease and handicap onto the individual who is held responsible, and promise healing to be possible with their "healing keys". Although the authors do not advise diseased persons to abstain from seeing a doctor, they also do not recommend seeking medical advise or help.

However, as of January 2014, Ticehurst has effected changes to the website promoting the book 'Healing Keys'. Links from diseases, as perceived by the authors, to recommended healing keys formerly freely available have been taken down and readers are informed they need to be approved by the site owner prior to having access to the so-called healing metaphors. Ticehurst also deleted all information pointing to her co-author Spezzano from the visible parts of her site. With the changes effected, an advice was added that seeing a doctor was recommended.

==Psychology of Vision==
According to information given at their website, Psychology of Vision was invented by Chuck and Lency Spezzano during the 1980ies. Psychology of Vision, however, is no scientifically recognised method or therapy, and the Spezzano's never submitted this method to scientific journals to obtain peer reviews. Furthermore, with the exception of the above mentioned thesis, there are no scientific publications by either Chuck or Lency Spezzano traceable. Unlike recognised, and many unrecognised, reputable therapies, Spezzano registered „Psychology of Vision“ as a trademark.

===Recent Esoteric and other Influences on Psychology of Vision===
While valid psychological approaches and methods on which PoV may be based do not get specified, there are two esoteric schools which do get mentioned as having influenced respectively still influencing PoV today. These are "A Course in Miracles" and "Oneness" (cf. above).

Another source Spezzano draws from is Tarot readings. His website offers a so-called "three-card reading" for visitors, and he has also published his own decks of cards and interpretations. While there are three different decks available in English language<ref name="amazon">http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Denglish-books&field-keywords=Chuck%20Spezzano accessed 14/08/2013</ref> and one in French<ref name="amazon" />, as many as six different decks of cards have been published in German language, five of them in 2008.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/Chuck-Spezzano/e/B001KCCFPK accessed 14/09/2013</ref>

Spezzano also took up influences from several religions, like the Jewish Kabbalah, Sufism, and also Hinduism.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=4179.50 accessed 04/10/2013</ref>

===Method===
Since Psychology of Vision has never received any peer review and scientific recognition, the efficacy or, for that matter, the ethical standards of the method(s) employed have also never been established and are not controlled.

Various websites claim Psychology of vision was ''„both a healing model and a global community of people teaching and practicing that model. Psychology of Vision is a path of the heart that has helped tens of thousands of people around the world through seminars, one-to-one coaching and its many products and publications. It has helped people improve their lives, their relationships and their health by giving them an understanding of themselves and others, and giving them insights into the events in their lives. It is a model that teaches emotional intelligence through a remembering of Self.“''<ref name="povcanada">povcanada.com/about-us/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Combining an alleged healing model with a global community does not quite reflect a scientific approach or method, but reminds of a cult. The claim of tens of thousands having already been „helped“ (not healed, apparently) remains unsubstantiated and must be viewed as a mere sales pitch. This is supported by the information this help was effected „through seminars, one-to-one coaching and its many products and publications“.<ref name="povcanada" /> This diction, employing commercial vocabulary instead of scientific terms, clearly points out PoV is a commercial enterprise, not a therapy.

In fact identical descriptions as the above quoted are given on PoV-sites worldwide. Sometimes, the adjective „groundbreaking“ is added to describe the „healing model“<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/about-us/ accessed 12/092013 accessed 12/09/2013</ref><ref name="bpv.ch" /><ref name="weltinnenraum">mein.weltinnenraum.de/group/psychologyofvision accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, and claims contend Psychology of Vision combined „modern psychological know-how with spiritual principles“.<ref name="weltinnenraum" /> Another variant claims, somewhat contradictory, that Psychology of Vision represented a „combination of classic psychology with spiritual principles“.<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren" />

On the other hand, Spezzano himself seems quite prepared to depreciate psychology, e.g. in an undated interview apparently done prior to the year 2000: 
''„Question: You said yesterday that psychology was a hoax and that psychology was the fastest of slow methods. What did you mean by this?
''CS: Psychology is mainly concerned with the past. But the past has passed! Psychology has lost its way. There are still many individual therapists who know the way. Psychology means the science of the psyche, the soul, but psychology today studies rats and worms. They try to reduce human structure to behavioural patterns and symptoms. It makes everything inhumane. It is a model of science from the last century. Every other science developed further, except for psychology.“<ref>www.stardust-archiv.de/Artikel/gebrochene_herzen.htm accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

===System of Seminars===
Psychology of Vision consists of several series of seminars. The first goal participants are expected to realise is the so-called "100-Day-Program", followed by a "Mastery Program" and a "Trainers' Program". Another set of seminars is offered in the so-called "Steps-to-Leadership-Program", while the "VisionWorks"-Program is targeting students and teachers.

The different workshops offered within the framework of these programmes sometimes provide information regarding how many days participation in the respective courses count, with a range of zero to ten days. Seminars counting zero days do not contribute to the participants' achievement e.g. in their 100-Day-Program. The system is explained on the British website:
''What constitutes a PoV day: 
''No coaching sessions given by any PoV trainer count toward a PoV day. 
''No study groups, mini-workshops, forums, etc. count toward PoV day even if led by a trainer. 
''Exceptions can be made if a trainer teaches a series or a mini-program with curriculum in a closed group where sessions are process led. Mini-programmes count as a maximum of 10 days. 
''An evening part of a PoV workshop counts as 0.5 day, eg Friday afternoon/ evening through to Sunday counts as 2.5 days. But, if that evening is open to anyone who does not participate in the complete workshop, it does not count as 0.5 day''<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/100-days-programme/accessed 12/09/2013</ref> and the German website<ref name="das-100-tage-programm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-100-tage-programm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, although both versions do vary<ref>''One complete Steps-to-Leadership Programme, counting 15 days, 30 days of Apprenticeship, 10 days of which are to be done in Hawaii. The prerequisite for an Apprenticeship is a minimum of 20 PoV days including 20 Joining sessions and/or the recommendation by a PoV trainer.</ref>

All workshops and seminars offered, however, are subject to a fee. Even so-called "info evenings" for the acquisition of more customers and providing an introduction to PoV, as are organised in the German-language areas, require the purchase of an entrance ticket at € 30,<ref>www.kurt-sommer.com/info/news/infoabend-ueber-psychologie-der-vision-und-steps-to-leadership-training.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, as do so-called study groups titled "Friends helpings Friends" organised every three weeks.<ref>www.anne-kathrin.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=31&lang=de accessed 13/09/2013</ref> While part of these may be taken locally, 10-day seminars done with the Spezzanos, at least one of these in Hawaii, are compulsory. Seminar fees also do not include costs for travel, accomodation and food which come on top of these expenditures.

The system of seminars creates a pyramid in which participants may advance to a higher status within the system which will eventually allow them to direct seminars and generate some income. Prior to this stage, participants will have paid substantial amounts on seminars and courses, as well as on books, DVDs and other material, additional seminars and last not least travel expense.

While many advertisements avoid mentioning seminar fees, there is some information available. In Great Britain, a three-day seminar with one or both of the Spezzanos costs GBP 1,100 (USD 1,763), for another one, the regular price is GBP 800 (USD 1,282). With e.g. an audience of 50 participants, this adds to a receipts of USD 88,150 resp. USD 64,100. Spezzano is further available for private coaching at GBP 1,000 (USD 1,603) per hourly session.<ref>www.povevents.com/healing-comes-from-the-heart/ accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

In comparison, seminars in Germany and Switzerland are not as pricey: a three-day seminar in Switzerland in February 2013 cost CHF 600 (USD 658) per participant.<ref name="bpv.ch" /> During their September 2013 stay in Europe, Spezzano will e.g. do a seminar in Stuttgart at a members' fee of € 365 (USD 493). Another seminar in Hamburg costs € 420 per person (USD 567).

Apprenticeship programmes are priced at $ 3,000 resp. $ 1,550 for 100-Day graduates. As it is limited to 50 participants, receipts for an apprenticeship thus amount to between $ 77,500 and $ 150,000. The Mastery Programme is available for $ 4,000 for 100-Day graduates. The German Steps-to-Leadership programme is sold at € 1,600 (USD 2,162) for the module part only, the three accompanying 3-day seminars have to be paid on top of this sum.

Since some of the compulsory seminars have to be done in Hawaii, and with some taking place with an international audience in India or Thailand, it is obvious that susbstantial amounts of travel expense and accomodation must be added to seminar fees. Further expenses may occur e.g. by participants being asked to intensify Joining lessons before being accepted to a particular programme. Participation in PoV therefore will be quite expensive for the individual, and may result in persons running into debt. Especially when non-affluent persons are being targeted, as is the case in Canada, this may have detrimental effects not only on families but entire communities.

====The 100-Day-Program====
The UK-site claims there are 100-Day graduates "all around the world from Japan to Vancouver, London to Taipei and Geneva to Zambia".<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/100-days-programme/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> The German section explains the goals of the programme in more detail:
:''"The Psychology of Vision 100-Day-Program provides a profound process of change, during which Chuck and Lency Spezzano or other PoV Seminar Leaders personally engage in the development of every participant. During the entire training, personal growth is given priority. Self-awareness and process-oriented work bring about profound change and basic insights into the dynamics of human consciousness.
:''Another goal of the PoV 100-Day-Program is the teaching of professional tools which enable participants to include the PoV principles into their professional life. Teaching basic methods and concepts of psychology make the focus here.
:''A third goal is to enable 100-Day-Program participants to organise their own seminars. It does not only qualify to perform Psychology of Vision seminars. An important, integral part of the training is the consolidation between individual phases: e.g. attending a study group or participance in a Steps-to-Leadership course."<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />
The 100-Day-Programme has to be completed within five years and courses are to be chosen according to the formula:
:''"15 days of Steps to Leadership + 30 days Apprenticeship + 55 regular PoV days = 100 days within 5 years."''<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />

While the German website first explains it was one goal of the programme to enable participants to organise their own workshops, the ability apparently does not entitle them to sell their own seminars:
:''"Having completed a 100-Day Program is a prerequisite for an eventual entry into the PoV Trainers' programme. It does, however, not entitle to organise and realise Psychology of Vision® seminars. Only Psychology of Vision® trainers are permitted to use the Psychology of Vision® logo and make use of the title of a Psychology of Vision® Trainer.
:''100-Day Graduates will be prefered for assistance (Staff) of Psychology of Vision seminars."''<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />

It is quite noteworthy that technical details regarding entitlements and seminar credits are explained in more depths than information on contents and methods.

====Mastery Programme====
The British site explains:''"The Mastery Programme is Lency’s dream made manifest."''<ref name="mastery-programme">www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/mastery-programme/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> While the British site says, this programme was ''"for graduates of the 100-Day Programme who want to continue to work at a high level, but who do not feel called to be a Trainer and work in the more structured environment offered in the Trainers Training Programme"''<ref name="mastery-programme" />, the German website offers differing advice: ''"On the other hand, participance in the Mastery Programme is one prerequisite for the application to join the PoV Team of Trainers."''<ref name="das-mastery-programm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-mastery-programm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

This programme is said to centre around a 10-day Graduate Mastery Seminar, with the entire programme taking one year. Further assets are monthly teleseminars with Chuck or Lency Spezzano and a free subscription to three e-courses. The British site mentions the 2007 Mastery Programme started with a seminar on Big Island, Hawaii, while the 2008 programme began with a seminar in India; the cost for the year was figured with US$ 3,500; however, further down at the same site, this amount is then said to refer to the initial 10-day seminar from Jan 19-28, 2012.<ref name="mastery-programme" /> The 2014 10-day Mastery seminar will again take place in Hawaii, with 100-Day graduates facing a fee of US$ 4,000.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=346 accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

With initial 10-day seminars being organised in Hawaii and India, it is quite apparent that the actual expenditure for participants will be substantially higher, in particular since the entire programme takes one year to finish. Neither the British nor the German site offer more information regarding further courses within this programme, with the exception of the advice that "[i]t may be possible that participants of the Mastery Programme will be asked to improve their Joining abilities before they can begin the year's programme".<ref name="das-mastery-programm" />

====Steps-to-Leadership Programme====

Jeff Allen, the UK/Ireland stewart of Psychology of Vision, takes credit for the creation of this course allegedly "designed specifically to provide a structured and accessible explanation of the basic principles of the transformative Psychology of Vision model".<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2">visionworksforlife.com/personal-development/steps-to-leadership-2/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

According to the further description provided, the STL Programme seems to be the 100-Day version condensed:
''"Steps to Leadership covers many of the teachings of Psychology of Vision (PoV) and presents them in 3-hour modules. The principles, lessons, and tools of PoV are synthesised, organised, each building on the previous one. Together they offer a way of engaging with the teachings in a practical and incremental way. When you graduate from the programme, you take with you a firm understanding of the workings of the mind, the blocks that are keeping you stuck, and techniques to overcome them."''<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" /> 
The description also employs the Newage concept of "blocks" needing to be overcome.

The course is offered in two versions, online and physical. The Physical Group course consists of 27 modules of three hours each plus three workshops. The Online Group again consists of three levels made up of 10 modules each: 
:''Level I (Modules 1 to 10 – The Conscious Mind)
:''Level II (Modules 11 – 20 The Subconscious Mind) and
:''Level III (Modules 21 – 30 The Unconscious Mind)
:''Level I consists of 10 three-hour modules. Each module is divided into a pre-learning and live online section. Level II is 9 three-hour modules and a 2-day workshop. Level III is 9 three-hour modules and a 3-day workshop.<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

Fees for these 27 modules as mentioned on German-language websites are € 1,875, minus a rebate for early bookers € 1,665 and another price for repeaters and couples at € 1,560 per person,<ref>www.anne-kathrin.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=36&lang=de accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, or with another trainer at € 1,690, a reduced price of € 1,521 per person for couples, and a special discount of 10% for persons introducing a new participant.<ref>www.kurt-sommer.com/trainings/stepstoleadershipplus.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

Regarding the benefits of this course for the students, the British site claims students will discover
:''Comprehensive information on the conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious aspects of our minds
:''Full details on the Triangle, Iceberg and other models of the Psychology of Vision
:''Clear explanations, exercises, discussion points, goal-setting, guided visualisations, and videos.
:''Understand the patterns and blocks in your life and learn tools and techniques to overcome them
:''Examine the dynamics of your life in a safe and supportive environment
:''Gain knowledge of and practise in the principles of the Psychology of Vision model
:''Discover your power to step beyond being a victim or a victimiser
:''Learn the meaning of your life and discover your purpose
:''Find practical ways to inspire your friends and family, and be a leader in your community and the world.<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

These explanations remind more of a conditioning of students with a set of behavioural rules and of thinking rather than a course enabling advancement. Participants are supposed to improve their life with a compulsory toolkit provided by the organisation. Additionally, participants apparently are prompted to proselytise among family and friends, and are baited with the prospect of becoming "leaders". Another incentive is given with pointing out the 10-day credit to the 100-Day-Programme participants will earn, plus obtaining as many as three workbooks which "on completion of the course become life-long reference manuals".<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

The German website additionally mentions some of the issues covered during this programme:
:''Introduction to Psychology of Vision - Phases and stages of relationships - The power of our consciousness - Power struggle - Communication and principles - Projection and forgiveness of transformation - The Triangle model - Personal responsibility and solving problems - Doctrine and patterns - Life-task, vision and fulfilment - The Ego and the higher Self - Emotional evolution - Dependencies and overcoming them "Joining" - Relationships and family dynamics "Love, clemency, and miracles".<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/steps-to-leadership/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

PoV's targeting seems to include business companies, as the introduction of one Canadian trainer claims, she ''"knows firsthand the process a company must go through to make the necessary shifts required to be transformational leaders"''.<ref>povcanada.com/trainers/joanne-roberts/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> If managers or owners recruited by PoV are prompted to run their enterprise according to PoV rules and techniques, this may negatively effect their business operations, as is known from cases in which companies were reorganised according to Scientology standing orders.

====The Trainer Programme====
This information is supplied at the German website and outlines the prerequisites of an application to this programme:
:''Applicants must have graduated from the 100-Day-Programme and have done a Mastery Programme in the previous year. Applications must be announced at least one year prior to handing in the actual application with the director of the Trainer Programme (presently Francine Girard). The announcement should happen until the end of January. Applicants are expected to have taught one course of Steps-to-Leadership on their own with at least four participants until July 1st of the application year. Confirmation of graduation of the Awakening Process by a PoV Trainer. Having read at least three books on Psychology of Vision by either Lency or Chuck Spezzano. Computer access, e-mail, skype, internet, as well as the ability of forthright self-evaluation. Chosing a mentor for the application year.
:''Psychology of Vision Trainers will continue to attend various workshops and will receive support from experienced trainers in the form of supervision.''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-trainer-training/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

It is apparent that, due to the considerable advance, the procedure causes a long-term commitment of participants.

====Psychology of Vision for Schools====
This is again further information provided in the German-language section of the PoV website and does not get mentioned in the English-language sections. The programme by the name of [[VisionWorks]] was set up by Sue Allen from the British branch, who is said to be both a PoV Trainer and a teacher, and aims at students and teachers. Since the description points out that the programme is meant to apply to entire classes of students, the main target for recruitment into this programme will apparently be teachers.

Among the aims lined out is:
:''To dissolve conflicts and anger not when they erupt, but, using the right awareness, already in their emergence; Positive emotional intelligence for students; motivating to learn and improving learn processes; communicating emotions forthrightly and without affront; to improve cohesion within grades; Understanding and being understood.
:''VisionWorks programmes supply young people with important abilities for their lives which are useful for themselves, their schools and the entire society.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/visionworks-%E2%80%93-das-schulprogramm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> 
When speaking of dissolving conflicts and anger as they emerge, the programme seems to aim at suppressing conflict and anger rather than providing or teaching adequate methods to deal with and solve them in acceptable ways, or ways to cope with frustration. This eventually will not lead to an improved feeling of cohesion, but to such issues being suppressed and covered up in an atmosphere of reinforced superficial and pretended smiles.

Two sets of benefits are mentioned, one for students, the other for teachers:
:''For students:
:''It helps students to make more positive decisions regarding their behaviour. The establishment of an independent learning behaviour, an increased emotional maturity. It helps students to feel more assured and included at school.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm" />

These benefits listed remind of an instant solution, a shortcut which allegedly realises in the time of one workshop what takes years of maturing in real life. It also indicates a rather mechanistic view of human nature, presuming that, with the appropriate input of methods and techniques, the same results will be reproduceable with every person.

:''VisionWorks for Teachers:
:''Optimising of homeroom classes with simple moduls immediately useable. Improving of behaviour and tolerance in students. Establishing a common language in order to handle conflicts and differing views.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm" />

While this may sound appealing to stressed teachers at first sight, this goes beyond a mechanistic view of human nature as expressed once more in the initial two sentences. The language used bears one striking resemblance to Scientology's redefinitions when differing views are to be "handled". Furthermore, establishing a common language may well mean the implementation of cult-like terms, creating a closed group communicating in a language not understood by outsiders due to the redefinition of words. On the other hand, teaching curricula make it quite evident that differing views are nothing to be handled, but to be encouraged as one result of democratic pluralism. It is also not possible to "handle" conflicts simply by introducing a common language. Students exposed to such procedures will not learn to cope with pluralism, or learn to seek solutions in case of conflicting interests. The course therefore may be quite detrimental to providing students with adequate knowledge and social abilities for their future lives in a democratic society.

====Joining====
This is usually presented as a fairly recent addition to the PoV system, and of course as a „groundbreaking“ method developed by Lency Spezzano. Joining is also described as a healing method. It is sometimes said it was based on an ancient healing method without mentioning its origins explicitely.<ref name="einfach-ja">www.einfach-ja.de/ausgaben/1004/zeitschrift_einfachJA_april-mai2010.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Apparently the method is to establish an eye-contact with a particular person but instead of concentrating on the other person, participants are expected to put the focus on their own feelings and thus „burn“ negative, blocking feelings which are eventually to be healed with the power of love and transformed into positive, inspiring feelings.<ref name="einfach-ja" />

On the other hand, Joining is described as utilising the „feminine, direct access to divine love, resulting in the release of emotional pain from the body/mind and the experience of miracles of forgiveness and grace.“<ref name="povevents" /> These varying descriptions apparently intend to make the method appealing to varying groups of persons.

===Psychology of Vision Trainers===
The trainers available in the various branches are listed in the respective sections of the PoV site, with Chuck and Lency Spezzano usually being listed at the top. The German-language section additionally lists two trainers from Great Britain, one of the a so-called Master Trainer, before introducing German-language trainers who are all Level-1-trainers. The US section names but one person who is the director of the PoV International Programme at the same time.

Trainers do not always mention their previous professional experience, but of those who do, none held a job as a psychologist or claims to have studied psychology. So apart from their exposure to Psychology of Vision (with for some trainers is said to be more than 20 years, in one case since the 1980ies), none of the trainers is a trained psychologist.

In fact, trainers come from various professional backgrounds, like nurse (1), horse trainer (1), alternative practicioner (2), social pedagogue (1), kindergarten nurse (1), trainer at a drama school (1), real estate agent (1), manager (1), executive director of an alternative health institution (1), in a non-specified healing profession (1), anthropologist (1), housewife (2).

Some apply further Newage methods, like Hawaiian bodywork, [[kinesiology]], or waterbalancing. Others claim to have participated in self-awareness and healing seminars, were into indigenous spirituality and have e.g. participated in Sun Dances, or were a student of A Course in Miracles.

From the ranks mentioned, there is a hierarchical system of trainers with Level 1 and Level 2 trainers and Master Trainers. The site does not provide information regarding how to advance in this system nor does it mention any costs connected with this. The Trainers' Manual added to the German section of the PoV site offers more detail regarding the licence fees due to be paid by PoV trainers: 
''"The Licence Fees are: 
''Trainer 1: $ 5.000, - USD 
''Trainer 2: $ 6.750, - USD 
''Trainer 3: $ 7.500, - USD 
''Trainer 4: $ 8.000, - USD"''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf p. 37</ref> 
This fee must be paid annually; the mentioned amounts were due for 2013.

==PoV and its International Branches==
According to the PoV International website, there are seven branches listed: Asia (in Chinese language), Canada, Hawaii (this opens the website of Chuck and Lency Spezzano), Japan (in Japanese), Mainland Europe (so far restricted to German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland, Austria), UK and Ireland, and USA. Individual trainers also have their own websites promoting the sale of PoV-connected courses and, if applicable, courses and seminars in further Newage methods they may apply.

Seminars and workshops are done by almost all of these branches; the notable exception, as becomes apparent from the PoV website, being US mainland. Additionally, there is only one trainer mentioned for US mainland, and she only does events in Canada, but not in the USA. Despite this, the trainer seems to be quite high in rank within the PoV system. The Spezzanos also do not do any workshops or lectures in US mainland, only in Hawaii and in various other countries worldwide.

===Economic activities and companies===
Despite PoV claiming and demanding transparency, there is only little information available online. Apparently, PoV's economic activities are executed by a Hawaii based company "Spezzano and Associates". Another company, PoV DACH GmbH [Ltd.] was founded in Switzerland. Apart from these, most, if not all PoV trainers run their own business, selling PoV-based seminars and workshops either exclusively or accompanied by various other Newage and or CAM methods.

====Spezzano & Associates Ltd.====
This company was founded in Hawaii, but information is rather scarce. It is mentioned in various business platforms, although the information provided differs slighty. According to an entry with the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, the annual sales volume was between USD 500,000 and USD 999,999, and they provide the detail that Lency Spezzano is the company's vice president. The Chamber places Spezzano & Associates in the category of "5 to 9 Employees", with the exact number of employes given as eight.<ref>https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/kaneohe-hi/32602223-spezzano-associates-ltd accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

Another platform provides the detail that Spezzano & Associates was founded in 1998 and is into "Business Services"<ref>
http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k5l8kwp0o/spezzano--associates/ accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref> N.E.C., while still another directory claims their being founded in 1980 already; aditionally, the annual revenue gets listed as USD 1 million with a total of six employees, and their activities are specified as "Lecture Bureau".<ref>http://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/spezzanoassociatesltd-kaneohe-hi-26607011.html accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

====PoV International Association====
A further organisation allegedly maintained is the „International Association of Psychology of Vision“, also named as „Psychology of Vision International Association“, and „PoVIA“ operating in „Mainland Europe“, i.e. presently the countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.<ref> http://www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf accessed</ref> However, the only publications mentioning this PovVIA in any way are the PoV Trainers' Manuals.

====PoV-DACH GmbH====
In Switzerland, a company registered as PoV-DACH GmbH was founded in 2012 as a successor of a liquidated company by the name of „Psychology of Vision DACH“ which has been operating since 2003.

PoV-DACH GmbH is situated in Solothurn/Switzerland with three persons listed as CEOs: Susanne Ernst, Mathias Keller, and Josef Neuschmid. Ernst and Keller are listed as trainers on Psychology of Vision websites, while Neuschmid does not seem to be a trainer but is mentioned in advertisements for lectures and seminars by PoV or Chuck Spezzano in person. According to public information provided by Swiss authorities, all three of them have single signing authority.
The purpose of PoV-DACH GmbH is:
:''“The organisation and conducting of lectures and events in the field of awareness raising, personality development and communication as well as trading goods of all sorts, and realising of further services connected to the main purpose. May adapt related branches of business, hold interest in other enterprises at home or abroad respectively resume or found enterprises, establish branches at home and abroad and furthermore engage in all commercial, financial, and other activities which will further the enterprise's purpose as well as purchase, hold, and sell real estate and properties at home and abroad“''
:''Capital fund: CHF 21,000.00.“''<ref> http://www.moneyhouse.ch/domizil/Solothurn/Vom_Staal-Weg_3.htm accessed Nov. 3. 2014</ref>

The former „Psychology of Vision DACH“ had a far more limited scope of activities:
:''“Date of registration: 09.12.2003
:''Purpose:
:''The Association's purpose is to further personality development, health, and spirituality. This may be achieved, amongst others, by offering courses, seminars, lectures or other events, through public relations as well as by other suitable activities.''<ref>http://www.moneyhouse.ch/u/psychology_of_vision_dach_CH-241.6.003.671-7.htm accessed </ref>
The German version of the Trainers' Manual issued by PoV further requests that all trainers belonging to the PoV Mainland Europe section transfer their annual trainer's licences to an account in Switzerland:
:''“Payment of annual licences must be made in US Dollar per bank transfer to:
:''International Association of Psychology of Vision
:''Vom-Staal-Weg 3, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland
:''Bank address: Credit Suisse (CS)
:''P.O.Box 3xx, 4502 Solothurn, Schweiz
:''Account no: 150 2491xxx
:''[...]
:''All cost for transfering amounts have to be covered by payer.
:''Further inquiries to be made with Susanne Ernst [...]“''<ref>http://www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-03-31_dt_Trainerhandbuch_sec_Endversion.pdf accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

The address given for this International Association is in fact the same postal address as used by the PoV-DACH GmbH.

==PoV Activities and Mode of Operation in Canada==
The Canadian branch merits a closer look, as there are noteworthy differences as compared to the other branches. One is its focus on Steps-to-Leadership Programmes and, therefore, a business clientele. Apart from the above mentioned "Steps to Leadership", this is propagated with a separate website and Facebook group both called "Visionary Leaders Canada". The FB group advertises dates for meetings of a so-called "Corporate Forum" addressing CEOs in particular. The invitations claim: "We are 'The Leaders The World Is Waiting For'." Participation in such a meeting requires an entry fee of CAD 60.00.<ref>www.facebook.com/pages/Visionary-Leaders-Canada/170213319701305 accessed 08/10/2013</ref>

The other difference is its targeting of First Nations. So far, there are activities at several reserves in Canada effecting the nations of Secwepemc (Shuswap), Haida, St'át'imc (Lillooet), Kwagiulth, Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Stó:lo (Coast Salish) and the Iskut Band (Tahltan).

The mode of operation as far as can be established first seems to seek to recruit First Nations individuals to take courses, preferably persons holding positions within tribal governments and administrations. These converts are then expected to proselytise among families, friends, and nations. Presently (September 2013), there are course facilitators and trainers from at least the Haida nation, the Tsimshian, and the Nuxalk (Bella Coola).

One incentive to look for clientele within these usually non-affluent communities may have been the fact that the Canadian government launched funds for the treatment of survivors of residential schools. Residential schools were run by the Canadian government and various denominations for First Nations students from 1876, with the last one being closed in 1996. In some parts of Canada, residential schools were the only option for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children, and about 150,000 children passed through the residential school system.<ref name="Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Education in these schools meant a, sometimes forceful, removal of students from their families. The use of ancestral languages was forbidden. Many children were exposed to physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and some children were also subjected to compulsory sterilisation. The schools also had a high mortality rate due to abuse, suicide, and disease. In 1998, the Canadian government established the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF), provided with CAD 350 million and receiving another CAD 40 million in 2005, to fund community-based healing projects.<ref name="Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system" /> AHF has meanwhile ceased funding operations.

===Unsubstantiated Claims and Double Standards===
The PoV website propagates its methods and goals for First Nations communities: 
:''About 10 years ago Chuck & Lency were inspired to work more closely with First Nations people. The POV Healing Model has been graciously welcomed in many First Nation communities, as it aligns with many First Nations belief systems. Psychology of Vision is dedicated to awakening the giftedness of indigenous peoples on the planet.''<ref name="first-nations">povcanada.com/first-nations/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> 

The claim of PoV aligning with many First Nations belief systems does not get substantiated in any way and remains a mere assertion. This is also true for the final sentence in this paragraph, contending that PoV was dedicated to awakening the giftedness of indigenous peoples, which expresses a racist view in assuming that indigenous peoples have to be "awakened" to make use of their gifts.

===The First Nations Fund===

The PoV website mentions the existence of a so-called First Nations Fund aimed at supporting the promotion of Psychology of Vision within Native American nations in Canada. The site further explains that a ''"First Nations Fund was created to support the healing of First Nations so they can teach & inspire their own communities. Financial contributions have been generously donated from each country where Psychology of Vision is taught around the world. Since its inception the First Nations Fund has successfully graduated 19 First Nations people from the 100 day program, and 9 of these graduates have become FN Trainers around BC.''<ref name="first-nations" />

It is also noteworthy that the site does not mention which nations these graduates and trainers belong to. Reading the text carefully, it seems this fund only applies to cost of accomodation and food, not to course fees:

:''Applications for the First Nations to subsidize accommodation expenses are on an “as-needs basis” for the upcoming June 2012 Apprenticeship. The funding application deadline is April 30, 2012, applications made after this date may not be considered.''<ref name="first-nations" />

Interestingly, the German-language section of the PoV website contains different information regarding the admission of First Nations participants and the fund:
:''The First Nations Fund came into being as a supply to cope with the numerous problems within the various tribes. Up to now, 25 First Nations have graduated from the 100-Day-Programme and presently, there are 5 First Nations PoV Trainers in Canada introducing their knowledge in various regions and reservations.
:''Generous financial contributions have been made to the fund from all parts of the earth where PoV is being taught.They ensure First Nations to participate in seminars and offer support for travel expense and accomodation during the trainings.''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/fonds/first-nations-fond/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>
This wording rather insinuates a funding of course fees as well, although it does not exactly advertise this, and this is not the only instance the different sections of the site provide contradicting information. The differences in figures mentioned for graduates and trainers in the English and German versions are also interesting and do not get explained by PoV. The Canadian site informs readers of seminar descriptions to inquire about special First Nations tuiton prices, with further reductions for couples, seniors, and students available.<ref>www.visionaryleaderscanada.com/ accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

While the English language sections of the site do not offer any further information regarding the Fund, the German language section, and particularly the Trainers' Manual published there, go into far more detail. The German Trainers' Manual contains a section K informing about the Fund which has been left out entirely in the English version of the Trainers' Manual.

At first sight, the Fund intends to give financial support PoV seminars, workshops, and other events provided they are organised in reservations and Native communities for a predominantly Native clientele. Unlike the usual procedure, organising trainers may apply for having their total cost (travel expense, cost for hotels etc if needed, etc.) paid under the Fund. Trainers may even pay their annual Licence Fees in part or in total by organising PoV events within First Nations, and the Manual even provides details regarding the exact amounts trainers will be able to deduct from their Licence Fee per seminar: e.g. the amount of USD 350 for a full seminar day and USD 175 for half a seminar day.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf p. 48</ref>

Native persons applying to become trainers also may be supported by the First Nations Fund. However, applicants are supposed to provide details regarding in which way their becoming a trainer will contribute to the „wellbeing of the planet“. The Manual provides guidelines here in mentioning that applicants may assert they are going to introduce PoV methods to their tribal elders and traditional representatives, within their families and communities, and to introduce their superiors within tribal managements and administration structures to PoV and PoV methods, prompting them to book seminars and apply PoV themselves within personal life and work environment. The applicants' success is then controled through compulsory quarterly reports.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf e.g. p. 45</ref>

While the Manual does not provide any information on how the Fund is financed, or information regarding the actual use of monies by the Fund – with the exception of an amount of USD 100 per month paid to the Fund Manager -, persons or communities receiving funding are expected to grant transparency regarding the use of amounts towards PoV.

The FN Fund thus provides incentives to organise events within First Nations and invites both First Nation trainer applicants and applicants trying to obtain funding of seminar fees to recruit persons not only from their families and communities, but in particular from traditional as well as administrative and management structures.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf e.g. p. 50f</ref> This may be seen as a systematic and multi-level targeting of First Nations.

===Front organisations and multiple targeting===

In at least one case, PoV made use of a front organisation applying for public and private funding via a [[Ngystle Society]]. The society's website neither mentions a non-profit status nor does it provide information on its managing board.<ref>ngystlesociety.com accessed 12/09/2013</ref> However, Ngystle Society received as much as CAD 475,300 from the Aboriginal Health Foundation to provide counseling to the Haida nation, the funding having ended in March 2010.<ref>http://www.ahf.ca/funded-projects/british-columbia/ngystle-society accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Ngystle Society received some further CAD 270,000 between 2004 and 2009 from the Gwaii Trust.<ref>http://www.gwaiitrust.com/project_archive/index.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref> The Gwaii Trust, however, has stopped its funding of "Healthy Humans" projects and revised its policy so that core funding and applications for repetitive grants are no longer possible.<ref>http://www.gwaiitrust.com/programs/index.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Since then, Ngystle Society continues to promote PoV seminars as well as further Newage products and treatments, in particular an [[Amethyst Bio-Mat]] and a device named [[Trinfinity8]] for a variety of uses ranging from rejuvenation to pain relief and as a treatment of diseases. Ngystle Society also cooperates with so-called shaman Erick Gonzalez, a Guatemaltekan living in the USA who claims to be Maya, but goes with a name taken from the Aztec Nahuatl language.<ref>www.mayanshamanism.com/about.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Already in September 2012, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a warning on Gonzalez for the suspected use of drugs like Peyote, [[Ayahuasca]], and Mescaline during alleged religious ceremonies.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Another organisation used by PoV seems to be "Kelmuc Circle of Friendship Society" which at least in one case was named as the organisation accepting checks in payment of a PoV seminar taking place at the reserve of the Adams Lake Band.<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly">http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/Nov_8_12_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Another way in which First Nations are being targeted are additional attempts to sell charlatan products and healing methods not evidence-based. One example for this is the Adams Lake Band (Secwepemc) in British Columbia, where PoV is selling their courses. The band's Newsletter for September 2013 announces a "Steps to Leadership" programme beginning September 19, 2013 with registration fees amounting to CAD 2,000 per person. The advertisement points out that fees have to be paid in advance.<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/?q=node/128 accessed 15/09/2013</ref> The band's newsletters for November 8, 2012 advertised a "The Path of the Spirit" workshop for the weekend of November 17-18 at CAD 150.<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly" /> The same newsletter displays further advertisements, e.g. for "Transformational & Esoteric Acupuncture" by a Nuage vendor who also does PoV. He seems to be cooperating with the tribal Wellness Deptmt. as the advertisement says they were taking instalment payments. Acupuncture is mainly effective in the way of a placebo and, depending on the hygiene observed by practicioners, may even present dangers to the health of clients. Another person advertises as a Reiki practioner. This is in sharp contrast to courses offered by the tribal government which make evident that membership of the band is far from affluent; one of the courses with one-on-one counseling is titled "Just Got Paid and Don't Have Any Money Left".<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly" />

The band's newsletter dated May 2, 2013 announced one PoV two-day workshop titled "Receiving Gifts & Guidance from Spirit"<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/May_2_13_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref> and another PoV two-day workshop "Living your Purpose" advertised in March 2013.<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/Mar_14_13_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

The St'át'imc have been targeted at least from 2010<ref>http://www.mediacoop.ca/sites/mediacoop.ca/files2/mc/january_10_statimc_runner.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> up to 2012<ref>http://www.tskwaylaxw.com/docs/tfnnewsletter2012nov.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> and workshops were organised in at least one community. For one of these seminars, persons named to contact for more information on seminars were from the tribal council and had respective e-mail addresses.

Another First Nation targeted by PoV courses since at least 2010 are the Stó:lo.<ref>http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/files_new/documents/CFOCJuly-Aug10.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Their Newsletter from July/August 2010 (i.e. at a point in time when AHF funding for residential school survivors had come to an end) carries an article on "Loss and Resilience in First Nation Communities" which, written by a PoV Trainer, addresses the issue of residential schools.

{{OtherLang|en=Psychology of Vision|ge=Psychology of Vision}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedical Therapy]]
[[category:Cult]]

Psychology of Vision

2015-10-05T23:50:59Z

Halbmond: /* System of Seminars */

'''Chuck Spezzano''', full name: Charles Lee Spezzano, is an author of about 40 books in the genre of advice literature, some of which have seen translations to other languages. He is also the inventor of a so-called '''Psychology of Vision''' which he sells on the esoteric market with his wife Lency Spezzano, full name: Lenora Kay Spezzano.

==Biographical Information==

There is only little biographical data obtainable on the Spezzanos, and the biographical information spread by the Spezzanos themselves on various websites, by their publishers, and by students and propagators often varies considerably regarding important details.

===Chuck Spezzano===

According to his website, Spezzano was born in upstate New York and grew up in Pennsylvania.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography">www.psychologyofvision.com/about/chuck-lency-biography/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> However, he does not give any further details as to a date of birth or as much as the year he was born. According to information found at the site of pipl.com, he is 65 years of age, so he must have been born in 1948 or 1947.<ref>“Charles Lee Spezzano, 65 years old, Kaneohe, HI, US, Kahaluu, HI, US“ at https://pipl.com/directory/name/spezzano/charles/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Spezzano claims to have studied to become a priest, to have joined a seminary and taken temporary vows, after which he joined Bethel Park Collegiate seminary and attended Duquesne University, where he claims to have studied Philosophy and Psychology, with a B.A. obtained from this university. He then allegedly gave up his career as a priest, and obtained an M.A. in sociology at Duquesne U., followed by a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from United States International University, San Diego (today: Alliant University) in 1977.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

In another paragraph in the same biography, Spezzano claims to have done both the M.A. and the Ph.D. at USIU. Several websites mention Spezzano having worked at the Naval Drug Rehabilitation Center as a psychologist between 1973 and 1979<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren">www.robert-betz-shop.de/wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren-p-52188.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref><ref name="chuck-lency-spezzano">www.michaelditsch.de/koerper-psyche/chuck-lency-spezzano.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, while Spezzano's own website does not mention any dates of this employment apart from having left this job in the autumn of 1979 to practice privately as a Marriage, Family and Child Counselor.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

Some time after 1983, the Spezzanos moved to Hawaii where they still reside today.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

===Lency Spezzano===
Biographical data for Lency Spezzano are likewise scarce. On their own website, she claims to have received both a BSc and an MSc degree in Rehabilitation Counselling in 1975 and 1976 from the University of Arizona. This points to a date of birth about 1954. Previous employment is restricted to the information of her having „designed and administered numerous rehabilitation agencies, training programs and treatment facilities“, but her main so-called professional experience seems to be Psychology of Vision from 1984 until today.<ref>www.chuckandlencyspezzano.com/LencySpezzano.htm accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Other internet sources describe her as a „relationship therapist and author“.<ref>www.frankfurter-ring.de/index.php?id=112 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Ms Spezzano has furthermore developed "Joining" which sometimes is described as "PoV's mystical path".<ref name="povevents">www.povevents.com/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

===Grades and Licences===
As was pointed out above, there are differing versions regarding Spezzano's courses of study.

Spezzano did in fact earn a Ph.D., for a dissertation titled: „The words that love made--a poetic phenomenology of the poet's experience of being a poet“, published in 1977.<ref>http://www.worldcat.org/title/words-that-love-made-a-poetic-phenomenology-of-the-poets-experience-of-being-a-poet/oclc/18900196&referer=brief_results accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Such a thesis cannot have been written in Psychology, but rather in Philosophy in which Spezzano only claims a B.A; and the grade obtained in Psychology also seems to have been a B.A. His Master's degree was obtained in Sociology, but the actual dissertation seems inappropriate to earn a Ph.D. in this field.

Similarly varying information is displayed regarding Spezzano's actual degree in Psychology: While Spezzano's websites mention him having worked as a counsellor, other websites claim he earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren" /><ref name="chuck-lency-spezzano" />, including his German publishers<ref>http://www.randomhouse.de/Autor/Chuck_Spezzano/p105313.rhd?pub=8000 accessed 12/08/2013</ref>; the same information, however, is also provided in the book of a British author<ref>Arielle Essex: Compassionate Coaching: How to Heal Your Life and Make Miracles Happen. June 2004, p.</ref>

While claiming to have had a private practice as a psychologist in Californa between 1979 and 1983, information obtainable points to a licence as a „marriage and family therapist“ obtained in the state of California in 1980, quite in congruence with having given up employment at the Naval Rehab Center in 1979. However, this licence expired May 31, 1990 without any renewal.<ref>http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllqryna$lcev2.startup?p_qte_code=LX&p_qte_pgm_code=1800 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> The present licence held for the Spezzano enterprise is for a „Spezzano and Associates, Limited“, issued November 15, 1990 in Hawaii.<ref>http://hbe.ehawaii.gov/documents/business.html?fileNumber=81992D1 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> A licence as a psychologist of whatever specialisation cannot be verified for the state of Hawaii.

An investigative documentary broadcast by Canadian TV station APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) aired on November 9, 2013<ref>http://aptn.ca/pages/news/category/investigates/ accessed 10/11/2013</ref> revealed that neither Chuck nor Lency Spezzano were in a position to call themselves "psychologist"; in fact, in a telecon prior to November 9, Spezzano told the TV station he did not claim the title of a psychologist and went by the lable of "coach".
The TV station also informed the audience that both Chuck and Lency Spezzano were fined by Hawaiian authorities for posing as psychologists in documents used in a custody case, claiming they were licenced Family and Marriage Therapists.<ref>http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/11/09/couple-questions-alternative-healing-groups-activities-haida-gwaii/ accessed 10/11/2013</ref> <ref>http://www.kimberry.com/tipaldi/steve1.html accessed 10/11/2013</ref>

===Esoteric Influences===
In his biography, Spezzano repeatedly mentions to have come into contact with various methods and techniques promoted on the Newage markets, in particular in the fields of commercial life-counseling and self-optimising, and integrated methods and concepts encountered there into his own concept.

According to his own account, he took „his first program seminar call [sic] Lifespring“ when employed at the Naval Drug Rehab Center, i.e. between 1973 and 1977.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> During the same period, he also became involved with „A Course in Miracles“ allegedly pointed out to him by a colleague.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> After 1979, when working as a private practitioner, Spezzano says he volunteered „as a trainer with ARAS, a workshop company with spiritual dimensions“.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />
A further step is mentioned with: „In 1982 and 1983 he also taught at the Tubb Wholestic [sic] Health Institute in Southern California...“.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> More recently, Spezzano integrated some ideas and practices from the so-called Oneness Movement into the framework of Psychology of Vision.

It must be pointed out that both Lifespring's (now presumably defunct) and A Course in Miracles' activities took place in the field of commerical life counselling, selling courses for personal development and advancement and urging participants to recruit further customers, including targeting their social environment. The Oneness Movement, on the other hand, is selling courses teaching a spirituality based on Eastern thought. Their goal is advancement and enlightenment on a personal level as well as creating a class of individuals privileged by enlightenment, thus indicating a probable totalitarian development and its embracement of the approach of creating super-humans.

====Lifespring====
Lifespring was founded in 1974 by John Hanley as a for-profit New Age resp. Human Potential company selling respective courses; it claims more than 400,000 persons participated in their trainings in the USA. Courses were organised in the three-level program with a "Basic" training, an "Advanced" course, and a three-months "Leadership Program".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifespring accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

There were at least 30 lawsuits against Lifespring, most of which seem to have been settled out of court. However, a 1984 lawsuit awarded $ 800,000 to a person who was hospitalised with mental problems following a Lifespring training. Both a 1992 and a 1993 lawsuit due to mental problems arising in the aftermath of Lifespring trainings were successful, too. At least one lawsuit in 1982 was led over the suicide of a course participant and settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.<ref>http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=983&Itemid=12&limit=1&limitstart=7 accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

The majority of Lifespring students are said to have had a very good education and belonged to the class of so-called Yuppies whom Lifespring promised more success and more happiness. At the same time, Lifespring attempted to convince large companies to have their employees trained by them to have their productivity and ethics increased. An independent study of Lifespring courses in 1981 said that the training systematically undermined the functioning of the ego, reduced the ability of critical thinking in participants, and caused an increasing dependency of participants from the views of their trainer.<ref>Bärbel Schwertfeger: Der Griff nach der Psyche. Was umstrittene Persönlichkeitstrainer in Unternehmen anrichten. 1998, p. 91f</ref>

====A Course in Miracles====
"A Course In Miracles" is the title of a book "scribed" by research psychologist Helen Schucman who claimed the book was channeled to her by Jesus. In her book, Schucman thus presents a re-interpretation of Christian religion, claiming Jesus wanted less suffering, less sacrifice, less separation, and less sacrament, but more love and forgiveness.<ref name="skepdic">http://www.skepdic.com/cim.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref> ACIM is promoted by two organisations, the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) and the Foundation for a Course in Miracles (FACIM), both selling books, seminars, audio- and videotapes, workshops, and seminars.<ref name="skepdic" />

Christian criticism of ACIM points to the fact that it contradicts basic tenets of Christian faith, employs Christian terminology to redefine it with Newage teachings, and supports Newage and occult ideas.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Course_in_Miracles accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

====Oneness====
This is a movement founded by Vijay Kumar, and Indian citizen, who goes by the title of "Kalki Bhagavan". The movement is led by Kumar and his wife, who are addressed as "Sri Amma Bhagavan" by students and followers.<ref name="Bhagavan">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki_Bhagavan accessed 13/09/2013</ref> The movement has spread to Europe and the USA from an initial Ashram in India. Meanwhile, a temple has been built for an alleged amount of $75 million, and Kumar also operates a "Oneness University" in India, selling advanced courses and trainings.<ref name="Bhagavan" /> Basic courses, like e.g. a training as a so-called Deeksha [blessing] giver, are also done in the USA and European countries.<ref> see e.g. www.deeksha.ch/mainpage/plaintext/onenessdeeksha/diegruender/index.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref><ref>oneness-deutschland.de/uedasprojekt.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

According to a website promoting the movement, both Kumar and his wife did not need a process of spiritual maturing, but were born in a state of oneness with all life and with the obligation to lead humankind to its awakening. Therefore, Kumar and his wife were the male and female aspect of an avatarian consciousness to aid the awakening of humankind.<ref>www.deeksha.ch/mainpage/plaintext/onenessdeeksha/diegruender/index.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

==Author and Lecturer==
Spezzano has written some 40 books of advice literature, many of which have seen translations into other languages. So e.g. there are about 30 of his books presently available in German language. A large part of these were written on partnership problems, presenting advice how to realise and maintain happy relationships or to cope with failed relationships, how to build up durable partnerships etc.

These books are being promoted by Spezzano giving lectures e.g. at Newage congresses in Europe. In February 2013, he did a seminar during the Basel Psi Days in Switzerland, an established annual congress which is being organised by Basel Psi Association since years. The title of this seminar was „What do happy people do differently“, with a fee of CHF 600 being charged from participants, its contents were announced as: 
''How to heal problems with the power of love, how to dissolve mechanisms of defence. This requires us to accept and love ourselves in the first place. We can heal disease, mental and psychological problems once we recognise our subconscious patterns. With both group and individual processes, Chuck Spezzano supports us in detectng and dissolving these limiting patterns, in healing chronic problems, and to introduce joy and happiness back into our lives.''<ref name="bpv.ch">www.bpv.ch/content/referenten/Spezzano.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

From September 26-29, 2013, Spezzano will be giving a seminar in Zurich, Switzerland titled „Healing begins in the Heart“, at a fee of CHF 570.<ref>www.imlicht.ch/data/html/bil_2013b_web.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

On October 28, 2013, Spezzano will make an appearance at the annual Bleep Congress in Germany, this year organised in the town of Leverkusen, and do a one-day workshop „How to create a Happy Relationship“ at € 120.<ref>www.bleepkongress.de/referenten-2013/drchuckspezzano accessed 12/09/2013</ref> This congress was spurred by the film „What the Bleep do we know“<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Bleep_Do_We_Know!%3F accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, written and produced by several persons from „Ramtha's School of Enlightenment“<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramtha%27s_School_of_Enlightenment accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, which has been described as cult-like. Although most of the lecturers invited to these congresses come from German-speaking countries, they also had international guests like William Arntz, the producer of the film and student of Ramtha's School, and [[Masaru Emoto]] in 2008, and plastic shaman [[J. Reuben Silverbird]] in 2011.<ref>www.bleepkongress.de/rueckblick/referenten-2011 accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Further seminars in Europe will take place in Frankfurt and Hamburg, with more seminars and trainings being announced for Hawaii and Canada.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/chuck-spezzano/ accessed 12/08/2013</ref>

===Healing Keys===

Although most of Spezzano's books deal with partnership and partnership problems, he also co-authored a book with Janie Ticehurst (or Janie E. Patrick) titled "Healing the Body Through Mind and Metaphor". The book is still available from Spezzano's website, while Ticehurst is selling the e-book version through her site.<ref>www.healingkeys.com/index.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref> While the co-author's name is "Ticehurst" for the e-book, the original paper version seems to have been written at a point in time prior to Ticehurst's marriage under her maiden name of Janie E. Patrick.

The authors claim that a multitude of diseases can be healed with a combination of Keys which they also list:
:''Bonding, Choice, Family Role, Forgiveness, Gifts, Grace, Integration, Letting Go, Love and Bonding Exercise, Purpose, Trust, Truth, Understanding, Willingness.''<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130915043622/http://healingkeys.com/KeyAtoZ.htm</ref> <ref>www.healingkeys.com/KeyAtoZ.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref>

However, some of the diseases the authors recommend to be treated with their set of keys are severe and patients suffering from such diseases should rather go to see an MD: e.g. ALS, AIDS, Appendicitis, Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, Epilepsy, Heart Attack, Hepatitis, Jaundice, Leukemia, Lymphoma Hodgkin's Disease, Meningitis.<ref name="healingkeys">https://web.archive.org/web/20130915052756/http://healingkeys.com/MetaphorAtoZ.htm</ref> <ref>www.healingkeys.com/MetaphorAtoZ.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref>

The authors claim:
:''Cancer involves the transformation of healthy functioning cells into malignant, or harmful, cells. The altered cells transfer faulty information to their offspring, and the cancerous cells grow in an abnormal and destructive way.
:''Cancer is the embodiment of self-directed anger. It reflects a place of guilt and self-attack.
:''A traumatic situation with a significant other will have taken place between six and eighteen months before the onset of the cancer.
:''At some level, it is an attack on another through self-harm. It highlights that we have a need to give that has gone wild, or is completely misplaced, in addition to a fear of our purpose.[...]
:''Tumors encapsulate our repressed anger, malice and conflicting, hidden belief systems.
:''We are trying to shelter our pain or disappointment and are attempting to hold back negative self-beliefs and evil self-concepts. These mistaken beliefs and self-concepts stem from unresolved emotional fractures and broken hearts.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

This approach clearly lays the blame for a disease on the diseased who is responsible for it. The same is true for handicaps, of which the authors e.g. list Birth Defects, Deafness, or Down's Syndrome. Birth defects are said to represent ''unfinished business from ancestral patterns and/or a past life metaphor. We are being called to heal this soul level issue.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

Their approach to deafness is:
:''It signifies that there is something that we don’t want to hear either about relationship (left ear), or career (right ear).
:''We have a fear of our purpose, and there is something that we are refusing to learn. There is an area where we have cut ourselves off, which is holding us back from joining the dance of life.
:''Because we want to do things our way, there is something we don’t want to hear from others or from within. Deafness means we have some stubbornness and unwillingness to listen and communicate.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

The explanation for Down's Syndrome is:
:''If we have Down’s syndrome, it means that we have come to learn some lessons at a soul level. We are here to seek soul fulfillment and the completion of a cycle, yet we are stuck in the transition between the old level and the new.
:''The two main soul lessons of Down’s syndrome are correcting over-willfulness and giving up the ego’s plan in exchange for heaven’s plan.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

The authors constantly lay the blame for disease and handicap onto the individual who is held responsible, and promise healing to be possible with their "healing keys". Although the authors do not advise diseased persons to abstain from seeing a doctor, they also do not recommend seeking medical advise or help.

However, as of January 2014, Ticehurst has effected changes to the website promoting the book 'Healing Keys'. Links from diseases, as perceived by the authors, to recommended healing keys formerly freely available have been taken down and readers are informed they need to be approved by the site owner prior to having access to the so-called healing metaphors. Ticehurst also deleted all information pointing to her co-author Spezzano from the visible parts of her site. With the changes effected, an advice was added that seeing a doctor was recommended.

==Psychology of Vision==
According to information given at their website, Psychology of Vision was invented by Chuck and Lency Spezzano during the 1980ies. Psychology of Vision, however, is no scientifically recognised method or therapy, and the Spezzano's never submitted this method to scientific journals to obtain peer reviews. Furthermore, with the exception of the above mentioned thesis, there are no scientific publications by either Chuck or Lency Spezzano traceable. Unlike recognised, and many unrecognised, reputable therapies, Spezzano registered „Psychology of Vision“ as a trademark.

===Recent Esoteric and other Influences on Psychology of Vision===
While valid psychological approaches and methods on which PoV may be based do not get specified, there are two esoteric schools which do get mentioned as having influenced respectively still influencing PoV today. These are "A Course in Miracles" and "Oneness" (cf. above).

Another source Spezzano draws from is Tarot readings. His website offers a so-called "three-card reading" for visitors, and he has also published his own decks of cards and interpretations. While there are three different decks available in English language<ref name="amazon">http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Denglish-books&field-keywords=Chuck%20Spezzano accessed 14/08/2013</ref> and one in French<ref name="amazon" />, as many as six different decks of cards have been published in German language, five of them in 2008.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/Chuck-Spezzano/e/B001KCCFPK accessed 14/09/2013</ref>

Spezzano also took up influences from several religions, like the Jewish Kabbalah, Sufism, and also Hinduism.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=4179.50 accessed 04/10/2013</ref>

===Method===
Since Psychology of Vision has never received any peer review and scientific recognition, the efficacy or, for that matter, the ethical standards of the method(s) employed have also never been established and are not controlled.

Various websites claim Psychology of vision was ''„both a healing model and a global community of people teaching and practicing that model. Psychology of Vision is a path of the heart that has helped tens of thousands of people around the world through seminars, one-to-one coaching and its many products and publications. It has helped people improve their lives, their relationships and their health by giving them an understanding of themselves and others, and giving them insights into the events in their lives. It is a model that teaches emotional intelligence through a remembering of Self.“''<ref name="povcanada">povcanada.com/about-us/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Combining an alleged healing model with a global community does not quite reflect a scientific approach or method, but reminds of a cult. The claim of tens of thousands having already been „helped“ (not healed, apparently) remains unsubstantiated and must be viewed as a mere sales pitch. This is supported by the information this help was effected „through seminars, one-to-one coaching and its many products and publications“.<ref name="povcanada" /> This diction, employing commercial vocabulary instead of scientific terms, clearly points out PoV is a commercial enterprise, not a therapy.

In fact identical descriptions as the above quoted are given on PoV-sites worldwide. Sometimes, the adjective „groundbreaking“ is added to describe the „healing model“<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/about-us/ accessed 12/092013 accessed 12/09/2013</ref><ref name="bpv.ch" /><ref name="weltinnenraum">mein.weltinnenraum.de/group/psychologyofvision accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, and claims contend Psychology of Vision combined „modern psychological know-how with spiritual principles“.<ref name="weltinnenraum" /> Another variant claims, somewhat contradictory, that Psychology of Vision represented a „combination of classic psychology with spiritual principles“.<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren" />

On the other hand, Spezzano himself seems quite prepared to depreciate psychology, e.g. in an undated interview apparently done prior to the year 2000: 
''„Question: You said yesterday that psychology was a hoax and that psychology was the fastest of slow methods. What did you mean by this?
''CS: Psychology is mainly concerned with the past. But the past has passed! Psychology has lost its way. There are still many individual therapists who know the way. Psychology means the science of the psyche, the soul, but psychology today studies rats and worms. They try to reduce human structure to behavioural patterns and symptoms. It makes everything inhumane. It is a model of science from the last century. Every other science developed further, except for psychology.“<ref>www.stardust-archiv.de/Artikel/gebrochene_herzen.htm accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

===System of Seminars===
Psychology of Vision consists of several series of seminars. The first goal participants are expected to realise is the so-called "100-Day-Program", followed by a "Mastery Program" and a "Trainers' Program". Another set of seminars is offered in the so-called "Steps-to-Leadership-Program", while the "VisionWorks"-Program is targeting students and teachers.

The different workshops offered within the framework of these programmes sometimes provide information regarding how many days participation in the respective courses count, with a range of zero to ten days. Seminars counting zero days do not contribute to the participants' achievement e.g. in their 100-Day-Program. The system is explained on the British website:
''What constitutes a PoV day: 
''No coaching sessions given by any PoV trainer count toward a PoV day. 
''No study groups, mini-workshops, forums, etc. count toward PoV day even if led by a trainer. 
''Exceptions can be made if a trainer teaches a series or a mini-program with curriculum in a closed group where sessions are process led. Mini-programmes count as a maximum of 10 days. 
''An evening part of a PoV workshop counts as 0.5 day, eg Friday afternoon/ evening through to Sunday counts as 2.5 days. But, if that evening is open to anyone who does not participate in the complete workshop, it does not count as 0.5 day.''
<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/100-days-programme/accessed 12/09/2013</ref> and the German website<ref name="das-100-tage-programm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-100-tage-programm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, although both versions do vary<ref>''One complete Steps-to-Leadership Programme, counting 15 days, 30 days of Apprenticeship, 10 days of which are to be done in Hawaii. The prerequisite for an Apprenticeship is a minimum of 20 PoV days including 20 Joining sessions and/or the recommendation by a PoV trainer.</ref>

All workshops and seminars offered, however, are subject to a fee. Even so-called "info evenings" for the acquisition of more customers and providing an introduction to PoV, as are organised in the German-language areas, require the purchase of an entrance ticket at € 30,<ref>www.kurt-sommer.com/info/news/infoabend-ueber-psychologie-der-vision-und-steps-to-leadership-training.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, as do so-called study groups titled "Friends helpings Friends" organised every three weeks.<ref>www.anne-kathrin.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=31&lang=de accessed 13/09/2013</ref> While part of these may be taken locally, 10-day seminars done with the Spezzanos, at least one of these in Hawaii, are compulsory. Seminar fees also do not include costs for travel, accomodation and food which come on top of these expenditures.

The system of seminars creates a pyramid in which participants may advance to a higher status within the system which will eventually allow them to direct seminars and generate some income. Prior to this stage, participants will have paid substantial amounts on seminars and courses, as well as on books, DVDs and other material, additional seminars and last not least travel expense.

While many advertisements avoid mentioning seminar fees, there is some information available. In Great Britain, a three-day seminar with one or both of the Spezzanos costs GBP 1,100 (USD 1,763), for another one, the regular price is GBP 800 (USD 1,282). With e.g. an audience of 50 participants, this adds to a receipts of USD 88,150 resp. USD 64,100. Spezzano is further available for private coaching at GBP 1,000 (USD 1,603) per hourly session.<ref>www.povevents.com/healing-comes-from-the-heart/ accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

In comparison, seminars in Germany and Switzerland are not as pricey: a three-day seminar in Switzerland in February 2013 cost CHF 600 (USD 658) per participant.<ref name="bpv.ch" /> During their September 2013 stay in Europe, Spezzano will e.g. do a seminar in Stuttgart at a members' fee of € 365 (USD 493). Another seminar in Hamburg costs € 420 per person (USD 567).

Apprenticeship programmes are priced at $ 3,000 resp. $ 1,550 for 100-Day graduates. As it is limited to 50 participants, receipts for an apprenticeship thus amount to between $ 77,500 and $ 150,000. The Mastery Programme is available for $ 4,000 for 100-Day graduates. The German Steps-to-Leadership programme is sold at € 1,600 (USD 2,162) for the module part only, the three accompanying 3-day seminars have to be paid on top of this sum.

Since some of the compulsory seminars have to be done in Hawaii, and with some taking place with an international audience in India or Thailand, it is obvious that susbstantial amounts of travel expense and accomodation must be added to seminar fees. Further expenses may occur e.g. by participants being asked to intensify Joining lessons before being accepted to a particular programme. Participation in PoV therefore will be quite expensive for the individual, and may result in persons running into debt. Especially when non-affluent persons are being targeted, as is the case in Canada, this may have detrimental effects not only on families but entire communities.

====The 100-Day-Program====
The UK-site claims there are 100-Day graduates "all around the world from Japan to Vancouver, London to Taipei and Geneva to Zambia".<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/100-days-programme/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> The German section explains the goals of the programme in more detail:
:''"The Psychology of Vision 100-Day-Program provides a profound process of change, during which Chuck and Lency Spezzano or other PoV Seminar Leaders personally engage in the development of every participant. During the entire training, personal growth is given priority. Self-awareness and process-oriented work bring about profound change and basic insights into the dynamics of human consciousness.
:''Another goal of the PoV 100-Day-Program is the teaching of professional tools which enable participants to include the PoV principles into their professional life. Teaching basic methods and concepts of psychology make the focus here.
:''A third goal is to enable 100-Day-Program participants to organise their own seminars. It does not only qualify to perform Psychology of Vision seminars. An important, integral part of the training is the consolidation between individual phases: e.g. attending a study group or participance in a Steps-to-Leadership course."<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />
The 100-Day-Programme has to be completed within five years and courses are to be chosen according to the formula:
:''"15 days of Steps to Leadership + 30 days Apprenticeship + 55 regular PoV days = 100 days within 5 years."''<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />

While the German website first explains it was one goal of the programme to enable participants to organise their own workshops, the ability apparently does not entitle them to sell their own seminars:
:''"Having completed a 100-Day Program is a prerequisite for an eventual entry into the PoV Trainers' programme. It does, however, not entitle to organise and realise Psychology of Vision® seminars. Only Psychology of Vision® trainers are permitted to use the Psychology of Vision® logo and make use of the title of a Psychology of Vision® Trainer.
:''100-Day Graduates will be prefered for assistance (Staff) of Psychology of Vision seminars."''<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />

It is quite noteworthy that technical details regarding entitlements and seminar credits are explained in more depths than information on contents and methods.

====Mastery Programme====
The British site explains:''"The Mastery Programme is Lency’s dream made manifest."''<ref name="mastery-programme">www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/mastery-programme/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> While the British site says, this programme was ''"for graduates of the 100-Day Programme who want to continue to work at a high level, but who do not feel called to be a Trainer and work in the more structured environment offered in the Trainers Training Programme"''<ref name="mastery-programme" />, the German website offers differing advice: ''"On the other hand, participance in the Mastery Programme is one prerequisite for the application to join the PoV Team of Trainers."''<ref name="das-mastery-programm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-mastery-programm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

This programme is said to centre around a 10-day Graduate Mastery Seminar, with the entire programme taking one year. Further assets are monthly teleseminars with Chuck or Lency Spezzano and a free subscription to three e-courses. The British site mentions the 2007 Mastery Programme started with a seminar on Big Island, Hawaii, while the 2008 programme began with a seminar in India; the cost for the year was figured with US$ 3,500; however, further down at the same site, this amount is then said to refer to the initial 10-day seminar from Jan 19-28, 2012.<ref name="mastery-programme" /> The 2014 10-day Mastery seminar will again take place in Hawaii, with 100-Day graduates facing a fee of US$ 4,000.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=346 accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

With initial 10-day seminars being organised in Hawaii and India, it is quite apparent that the actual expenditure for participants will be substantially higher, in particular since the entire programme takes one year to finish. Neither the British nor the German site offer more information regarding further courses within this programme, with the exception of the advice that "[i]t may be possible that participants of the Mastery Programme will be asked to improve their Joining abilities before they can begin the year's programme".<ref name="das-mastery-programm" />

====Steps-to-Leadership Programme====

Jeff Allen, the UK/Ireland stewart of Psychology of Vision, takes credit for the creation of this course allegedly "designed specifically to provide a structured and accessible explanation of the basic principles of the transformative Psychology of Vision model".<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2">visionworksforlife.com/personal-development/steps-to-leadership-2/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

According to the further description provided, the STL Programme seems to be the 100-Day version condensed:
''"Steps to Leadership covers many of the teachings of Psychology of Vision (PoV) and presents them in 3-hour modules. The principles, lessons, and tools of PoV are synthesised, organised, each building on the previous one. Together they offer a way of engaging with the teachings in a practical and incremental way. When you graduate from the programme, you take with you a firm understanding of the workings of the mind, the blocks that are keeping you stuck, and techniques to overcome them."''<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" /> 
The description also employs the Newage concept of "blocks" needing to be overcome.

The course is offered in two versions, online and physical. The Physical Group course consists of 27 modules of three hours each plus three workshops. The Online Group again consists of three levels made up of 10 modules each: 
:''Level I (Modules 1 to 10 – The Conscious Mind)
:''Level II (Modules 11 – 20 The Subconscious Mind) and
:''Level III (Modules 21 – 30 The Unconscious Mind)
:''Level I consists of 10 three-hour modules. Each module is divided into a pre-learning and live online section. Level II is 9 three-hour modules and a 2-day workshop. Level III is 9 three-hour modules and a 3-day workshop.<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

Fees for these 27 modules as mentioned on German-language websites are € 1,875, minus a rebate for early bookers € 1,665 and another price for repeaters and couples at € 1,560 per person,<ref>www.anne-kathrin.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=36&lang=de accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, or with another trainer at € 1,690, a reduced price of € 1,521 per person for couples, and a special discount of 10% for persons introducing a new participant.<ref>www.kurt-sommer.com/trainings/stepstoleadershipplus.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

Regarding the benefits of this course for the students, the British site claims students will discover
:''Comprehensive information on the conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious aspects of our minds
:''Full details on the Triangle, Iceberg and other models of the Psychology of Vision
:''Clear explanations, exercises, discussion points, goal-setting, guided visualisations, and videos.
:''Understand the patterns and blocks in your life and learn tools and techniques to overcome them
:''Examine the dynamics of your life in a safe and supportive environment
:''Gain knowledge of and practise in the principles of the Psychology of Vision model
:''Discover your power to step beyond being a victim or a victimiser
:''Learn the meaning of your life and discover your purpose
:''Find practical ways to inspire your friends and family, and be a leader in your community and the world.<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

These explanations remind more of a conditioning of students with a set of behavioural rules and of thinking rather than a course enabling advancement. Participants are supposed to improve their life with a compulsory toolkit provided by the organisation. Additionally, participants apparently are prompted to proselytise among family and friends, and are baited with the prospect of becoming "leaders". Another incentive is given with pointing out the 10-day credit to the 100-Day-Programme participants will earn, plus obtaining as many as three workbooks which "on completion of the course become life-long reference manuals".<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

The German website additionally mentions some of the issues covered during this programme:
:''Introduction to Psychology of Vision - Phases and stages of relationships - The power of our consciousness - Power struggle - Communication and principles - Projection and forgiveness of transformation - The Triangle model - Personal responsibility and solving problems - Doctrine and patterns - Life-task, vision and fulfilment - The Ego and the higher Self - Emotional evolution - Dependencies and overcoming them "Joining" - Relationships and family dynamics "Love, clemency, and miracles".<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/steps-to-leadership/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

PoV's targeting seems to include business companies, as the introduction of one Canadian trainer claims, she ''"knows firsthand the process a company must go through to make the necessary shifts required to be transformational leaders"''.<ref>povcanada.com/trainers/joanne-roberts/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> If managers or owners recruited by PoV are prompted to run their enterprise according to PoV rules and techniques, this may negatively effect their business operations, as is known from cases in which companies were reorganised according to Scientology standing orders.

====The Trainer Programme====
This information is supplied at the German website and outlines the prerequisites of an application to this programme:
:''Applicants must have graduated from the 100-Day-Programme and have done a Mastery Programme in the previous year. Applications must be announced at least one year prior to handing in the actual application with the director of the Trainer Programme (presently Francine Girard). The announcement should happen until the end of January. Applicants are expected to have taught one course of Steps-to-Leadership on their own with at least four participants until July 1st of the application year. Confirmation of graduation of the Awakening Process by a PoV Trainer. Having read at least three books on Psychology of Vision by either Lency or Chuck Spezzano. Computer access, e-mail, skype, internet, as well as the ability of forthright self-evaluation. Chosing a mentor for the application year.
:''Psychology of Vision Trainers will continue to attend various workshops and will receive support from experienced trainers in the form of supervision.''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-trainer-training/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

It is apparent that, due to the considerable advance, the procedure causes a long-term commitment of participants.

====Psychology of Vision for Schools====
This is again further information provided in the German-language section of the PoV website and does not get mentioned in the English-language sections. The programme by the name of [[VisionWorks]] was set up by Sue Allen from the British branch, who is said to be both a PoV Trainer and a teacher, and aims at students and teachers. Since the description points out that the programme is meant to apply to entire classes of students, the main target for recruitment into this programme will apparently be teachers.

Among the aims lined out is:
:''To dissolve conflicts and anger not when they erupt, but, using the right awareness, already in their emergence; Positive emotional intelligence for students; motivating to learn and improving learn processes; communicating emotions forthrightly and without affront; to improve cohesion within grades; Understanding and being understood.
:''VisionWorks programmes supply young people with important abilities for their lives which are useful for themselves, their schools and the entire society.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/visionworks-%E2%80%93-das-schulprogramm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> 
When speaking of dissolving conflicts and anger as they emerge, the programme seems to aim at suppressing conflict and anger rather than providing or teaching adequate methods to deal with and solve them in acceptable ways, or ways to cope with frustration. This eventually will not lead to an improved feeling of cohesion, but to such issues being suppressed and covered up in an atmosphere of reinforced superficial and pretended smiles.

Two sets of benefits are mentioned, one for students, the other for teachers:
:''For students:
:''It helps students to make more positive decisions regarding their behaviour. The establishment of an independent learning behaviour, an increased emotional maturity. It helps students to feel more assured and included at school.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm" />

These benefits listed remind of an instant solution, a shortcut which allegedly realises in the time of one workshop what takes years of maturing in real life. It also indicates a rather mechanistic view of human nature, presuming that, with the appropriate input of methods and techniques, the same results will be reproduceable with every person.

:''VisionWorks for Teachers:
:''Optimising of homeroom classes with simple moduls immediately useable. Improving of behaviour and tolerance in students. Establishing a common language in order to handle conflicts and differing views.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm" />

While this may sound appealing to stressed teachers at first sight, this goes beyond a mechanistic view of human nature as expressed once more in the initial two sentences. The language used bears one striking resemblance to Scientology's redefinitions when differing views are to be "handled". Furthermore, establishing a common language may well mean the implementation of cult-like terms, creating a closed group communicating in a language not understood by outsiders due to the redefinition of words. On the other hand, teaching curricula make it quite evident that differing views are nothing to be handled, but to be encouraged as one result of democratic pluralism. It is also not possible to "handle" conflicts simply by introducing a common language. Students exposed to such procedures will not learn to cope with pluralism, or learn to seek solutions in case of conflicting interests. The course therefore may be quite detrimental to providing students with adequate knowledge and social abilities for their future lives in a democratic society.

====Joining====
This is usually presented as a fairly recent addition to the PoV system, and of course as a „groundbreaking“ method developed by Lency Spezzano. Joining is also described as a healing method. It is sometimes said it was based on an ancient healing method without mentioning its origins explicitely.<ref name="einfach-ja">www.einfach-ja.de/ausgaben/1004/zeitschrift_einfachJA_april-mai2010.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Apparently the method is to establish an eye-contact with a particular person but instead of concentrating on the other person, participants are expected to put the focus on their own feelings and thus „burn“ negative, blocking feelings which are eventually to be healed with the power of love and transformed into positive, inspiring feelings.<ref name="einfach-ja" />

On the other hand, Joining is described as utilising the „feminine, direct access to divine love, resulting in the release of emotional pain from the body/mind and the experience of miracles of forgiveness and grace.“<ref name="povevents" /> These varying descriptions apparently intend to make the method appealing to varying groups of persons.

===Psychology of Vision Trainers===
The trainers available in the various branches are listed in the respective sections of the PoV site, with Chuck and Lency Spezzano usually being listed at the top. The German-language section additionally lists two trainers from Great Britain, one of the a so-called Master Trainer, before introducing German-language trainers who are all Level-1-trainers. The US section names but one person who is the director of the PoV International Programme at the same time.

Trainers do not always mention their previous professional experience, but of those who do, none held a job as a psychologist or claims to have studied psychology. So apart from their exposure to Psychology of Vision (with for some trainers is said to be more than 20 years, in one case since the 1980ies), none of the trainers is a trained psychologist.

In fact, trainers come from various professional backgrounds, like nurse (1), horse trainer (1), alternative practicioner (2), social pedagogue (1), kindergarten nurse (1), trainer at a drama school (1), real estate agent (1), manager (1), executive director of an alternative health institution (1), in a non-specified healing profession (1), anthropologist (1), housewife (2).

Some apply further Newage methods, like Hawaiian bodywork, [[kinesiology]], or waterbalancing. Others claim to have participated in self-awareness and healing seminars, were into indigenous spirituality and have e.g. participated in Sun Dances, or were a student of A Course in Miracles.

From the ranks mentioned, there is a hierarchical system of trainers with Level 1 and Level 2 trainers and Master Trainers. The site does not provide information regarding how to advance in this system nor does it mention any costs connected with this. The Trainers' Manual added to the German section of the PoV site offers more detail regarding the licence fees due to be paid by PoV trainers: 
''"The Licence Fees are: 
''Trainer 1: $ 5.000, - USD 
''Trainer 2: $ 6.750, - USD 
''Trainer 3: $ 7.500, - USD 
''Trainer 4: $ 8.000, - USD"''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf p. 37</ref> 
This fee must be paid annually; the mentioned amounts were due for 2013.

==PoV and its International Branches==
According to the PoV International website, there are seven branches listed: Asia (in Chinese language), Canada, Hawaii (this opens the website of Chuck and Lency Spezzano), Japan (in Japanese), Mainland Europe (so far restricted to German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland, Austria), UK and Ireland, and USA. Individual trainers also have their own websites promoting the sale of PoV-connected courses and, if applicable, courses and seminars in further Newage methods they may apply.

Seminars and workshops are done by almost all of these branches; the notable exception, as becomes apparent from the PoV website, being US mainland. Additionally, there is only one trainer mentioned for US mainland, and she only does events in Canada, but not in the USA. Despite this, the trainer seems to be quite high in rank within the PoV system. The Spezzanos also do not do any workshops or lectures in US mainland, only in Hawaii and in various other countries worldwide.

===Economic activities and companies===
Despite PoV claiming and demanding transparency, there is only little information available online. Apparently, PoV's economic activities are executed by a Hawaii based company "Spezzano and Associates". Another company, PoV DACH GmbH [Ltd.] was founded in Switzerland. Apart from these, most, if not all PoV trainers run their own business, selling PoV-based seminars and workshops either exclusively or accompanied by various other Newage and or CAM methods.

====Spezzano & Associates Ltd.====
This company was founded in Hawaii, but information is rather scarce. It is mentioned in various business platforms, although the information provided differs slighty. According to an entry with the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, the annual sales volume was between USD 500,000 and USD 999,999, and they provide the detail that Lency Spezzano is the company's vice president. The Chamber places Spezzano & Associates in the category of "5 to 9 Employees", with the exact number of employes given as eight.<ref>https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/kaneohe-hi/32602223-spezzano-associates-ltd accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

Another platform provides the detail that Spezzano & Associates was founded in 1998 and is into "Business Services"<ref>
http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k5l8kwp0o/spezzano--associates/ accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref> N.E.C., while still another directory claims their being founded in 1980 already; aditionally, the annual revenue gets listed as USD 1 million with a total of six employees, and their activities are specified as "Lecture Bureau".<ref>http://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/spezzanoassociatesltd-kaneohe-hi-26607011.html accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

====PoV International Association====
A further organisation allegedly maintained is the „International Association of Psychology of Vision“, also named as „Psychology of Vision International Association“, and „PoVIA“ operating in „Mainland Europe“, i.e. presently the countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.<ref> http://www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf accessed</ref> However, the only publications mentioning this PovVIA in any way are the PoV Trainers' Manuals.

====PoV-DACH GmbH====
In Switzerland, a company registered as PoV-DACH GmbH was founded in 2012 as a successor of a liquidated company by the name of „Psychology of Vision DACH“ which has been operating since 2003.

PoV-DACH GmbH is situated in Solothurn/Switzerland with three persons listed as CEOs: Susanne Ernst, Mathias Keller, and Josef Neuschmid. Ernst and Keller are listed as trainers on Psychology of Vision websites, while Neuschmid does not seem to be a trainer but is mentioned in advertisements for lectures and seminars by PoV or Chuck Spezzano in person. According to public information provided by Swiss authorities, all three of them have single signing authority.
The purpose of PoV-DACH GmbH is:
:''“The organisation and conducting of lectures and events in the field of awareness raising, personality development and communication as well as trading goods of all sorts, and realising of further services connected to the main purpose. May adapt related branches of business, hold interest in other enterprises at home or abroad respectively resume or found enterprises, establish branches at home and abroad and furthermore engage in all commercial, financial, and other activities which will further the enterprise's purpose as well as purchase, hold, and sell real estate and properties at home and abroad“''
:''Capital fund: CHF 21,000.00.“''<ref> http://www.moneyhouse.ch/domizil/Solothurn/Vom_Staal-Weg_3.htm accessed Nov. 3. 2014</ref>

The former „Psychology of Vision DACH“ had a far more limited scope of activities:
:''“Date of registration: 09.12.2003
:''Purpose:
:''The Association's purpose is to further personality development, health, and spirituality. This may be achieved, amongst others, by offering courses, seminars, lectures or other events, through public relations as well as by other suitable activities.''<ref>http://www.moneyhouse.ch/u/psychology_of_vision_dach_CH-241.6.003.671-7.htm accessed </ref>
The German version of the Trainers' Manual issued by PoV further requests that all trainers belonging to the PoV Mainland Europe section transfer their annual trainer's licences to an account in Switzerland:
:''“Payment of annual licences must be made in US Dollar per bank transfer to:
:''International Association of Psychology of Vision
:''Vom-Staal-Weg 3, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland
:''Bank address: Credit Suisse (CS)
:''P.O.Box 3xx, 4502 Solothurn, Schweiz
:''Account no: 150 2491xxx
:''[...]
:''All cost for transfering amounts have to be covered by payer.
:''Further inquiries to be made with Susanne Ernst [...]“''<ref>http://www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-03-31_dt_Trainerhandbuch_sec_Endversion.pdf accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

The address given for this International Association is in fact the same postal address as used by the PoV-DACH GmbH.

==PoV Activities and Mode of Operation in Canada==
The Canadian branch merits a closer look, as there are noteworthy differences as compared to the other branches. One is its focus on Steps-to-Leadership Programmes and, therefore, a business clientele. Apart from the above mentioned "Steps to Leadership", this is propagated with a separate website and Facebook group both called "Visionary Leaders Canada". The FB group advertises dates for meetings of a so-called "Corporate Forum" addressing CEOs in particular. The invitations claim: "We are 'The Leaders The World Is Waiting For'." Participation in such a meeting requires an entry fee of CAD 60.00.<ref>www.facebook.com/pages/Visionary-Leaders-Canada/170213319701305 accessed 08/10/2013</ref>

The other difference is its targeting of First Nations. So far, there are activities at several reserves in Canada effecting the nations of Secwepemc (Shuswap), Haida, St'át'imc (Lillooet), Kwagiulth, Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Stó:lo (Coast Salish) and the Iskut Band (Tahltan).

The mode of operation as far as can be established first seems to seek to recruit First Nations individuals to take courses, preferably persons holding positions within tribal governments and administrations. These converts are then expected to proselytise among families, friends, and nations. Presently (September 2013), there are course facilitators and trainers from at least the Haida nation, the Tsimshian, and the Nuxalk (Bella Coola).

One incentive to look for clientele within these usually non-affluent communities may have been the fact that the Canadian government launched funds for the treatment of survivors of residential schools. Residential schools were run by the Canadian government and various denominations for First Nations students from 1876, with the last one being closed in 1996. In some parts of Canada, residential schools were the only option for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children, and about 150,000 children passed through the residential school system.<ref name="Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Education in these schools meant a, sometimes forceful, removal of students from their families. The use of ancestral languages was forbidden. Many children were exposed to physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and some children were also subjected to compulsory sterilisation. The schools also had a high mortality rate due to abuse, suicide, and disease. In 1998, the Canadian government established the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF), provided with CAD 350 million and receiving another CAD 40 million in 2005, to fund community-based healing projects.<ref name="Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system" /> AHF has meanwhile ceased funding operations.

===Unsubstantiated Claims and Double Standards===
The PoV website propagates its methods and goals for First Nations communities: 
:''About 10 years ago Chuck & Lency were inspired to work more closely with First Nations people. The POV Healing Model has been graciously welcomed in many First Nation communities, as it aligns with many First Nations belief systems. Psychology of Vision is dedicated to awakening the giftedness of indigenous peoples on the planet.''<ref name="first-nations">povcanada.com/first-nations/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> 

The claim of PoV aligning with many First Nations belief systems does not get substantiated in any way and remains a mere assertion. This is also true for the final sentence in this paragraph, contending that PoV was dedicated to awakening the giftedness of indigenous peoples, which expresses a racist view in assuming that indigenous peoples have to be "awakened" to make use of their gifts.

===The First Nations Fund===

The PoV website mentions the existence of a so-called First Nations Fund aimed at supporting the promotion of Psychology of Vision within Native American nations in Canada. The site further explains that a ''"First Nations Fund was created to support the healing of First Nations so they can teach & inspire their own communities. Financial contributions have been generously donated from each country where Psychology of Vision is taught around the world. Since its inception the First Nations Fund has successfully graduated 19 First Nations people from the 100 day program, and 9 of these graduates have become FN Trainers around BC.''<ref name="first-nations" />

It is also noteworthy that the site does not mention which nations these graduates and trainers belong to. Reading the text carefully, it seems this fund only applies to cost of accomodation and food, not to course fees:

:''Applications for the First Nations to subsidize accommodation expenses are on an “as-needs basis” for the upcoming June 2012 Apprenticeship. The funding application deadline is April 30, 2012, applications made after this date may not be considered.''<ref name="first-nations" />

Interestingly, the German-language section of the PoV website contains different information regarding the admission of First Nations participants and the fund:
:''The First Nations Fund came into being as a supply to cope with the numerous problems within the various tribes. Up to now, 25 First Nations have graduated from the 100-Day-Programme and presently, there are 5 First Nations PoV Trainers in Canada introducing their knowledge in various regions and reservations.
:''Generous financial contributions have been made to the fund from all parts of the earth where PoV is being taught.They ensure First Nations to participate in seminars and offer support for travel expense and accomodation during the trainings.''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/fonds/first-nations-fond/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>
This wording rather insinuates a funding of course fees as well, although it does not exactly advertise this, and this is not the only instance the different sections of the site provide contradicting information. The differences in figures mentioned for graduates and trainers in the English and German versions are also interesting and do not get explained by PoV. The Canadian site informs readers of seminar descriptions to inquire about special First Nations tuiton prices, with further reductions for couples, seniors, and students available.<ref>www.visionaryleaderscanada.com/ accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

While the English language sections of the site do not offer any further information regarding the Fund, the German language section, and particularly the Trainers' Manual published there, go into far more detail. The German Trainers' Manual contains a section K informing about the Fund which has been left out entirely in the English version of the Trainers' Manual.

At first sight, the Fund intends to give financial support PoV seminars, workshops, and other events provided they are organised in reservations and Native communities for a predominantly Native clientele. Unlike the usual procedure, organising trainers may apply for having their total cost (travel expense, cost for hotels etc if needed, etc.) paid under the Fund. Trainers may even pay their annual Licence Fees in part or in total by organising PoV events within First Nations, and the Manual even provides details regarding the exact amounts trainers will be able to deduct from their Licence Fee per seminar: e.g. the amount of USD 350 for a full seminar day and USD 175 for half a seminar day.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf p. 48</ref>

Native persons applying to become trainers also may be supported by the First Nations Fund. However, applicants are supposed to provide details regarding in which way their becoming a trainer will contribute to the „wellbeing of the planet“. The Manual provides guidelines here in mentioning that applicants may assert they are going to introduce PoV methods to their tribal elders and traditional representatives, within their families and communities, and to introduce their superiors within tribal managements and administration structures to PoV and PoV methods, prompting them to book seminars and apply PoV themselves within personal life and work environment. The applicants' success is then controled through compulsory quarterly reports.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf e.g. p. 45</ref>

While the Manual does not provide any information on how the Fund is financed, or information regarding the actual use of monies by the Fund – with the exception of an amount of USD 100 per month paid to the Fund Manager -, persons or communities receiving funding are expected to grant transparency regarding the use of amounts towards PoV.

The FN Fund thus provides incentives to organise events within First Nations and invites both First Nation trainer applicants and applicants trying to obtain funding of seminar fees to recruit persons not only from their families and communities, but in particular from traditional as well as administrative and management structures.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf e.g. p. 50f</ref> This may be seen as a systematic and multi-level targeting of First Nations.

===Front organisations and multiple targeting===

In at least one case, PoV made use of a front organisation applying for public and private funding via a [[Ngystle Society]]. The society's website neither mentions a non-profit status nor does it provide information on its managing board.<ref>ngystlesociety.com accessed 12/09/2013</ref> However, Ngystle Society received as much as CAD 475,300 from the Aboriginal Health Foundation to provide counseling to the Haida nation, the funding having ended in March 2010.<ref>http://www.ahf.ca/funded-projects/british-columbia/ngystle-society accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Ngystle Society received some further CAD 270,000 between 2004 and 2009 from the Gwaii Trust.<ref>http://www.gwaiitrust.com/project_archive/index.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref> The Gwaii Trust, however, has stopped its funding of "Healthy Humans" projects and revised its policy so that core funding and applications for repetitive grants are no longer possible.<ref>http://www.gwaiitrust.com/programs/index.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Since then, Ngystle Society continues to promote PoV seminars as well as further Newage products and treatments, in particular an [[Amethyst Bio-Mat]] and a device named [[Trinfinity8]] for a variety of uses ranging from rejuvenation to pain relief and as a treatment of diseases. Ngystle Society also cooperates with so-called shaman Erick Gonzalez, a Guatemaltekan living in the USA who claims to be Maya, but goes with a name taken from the Aztec Nahuatl language.<ref>www.mayanshamanism.com/about.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Already in September 2012, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a warning on Gonzalez for the suspected use of drugs like Peyote, [[Ayahuasca]], and Mescaline during alleged religious ceremonies.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Another organisation used by PoV seems to be "Kelmuc Circle of Friendship Society" which at least in one case was named as the organisation accepting checks in payment of a PoV seminar taking place at the reserve of the Adams Lake Band.<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly">http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/Nov_8_12_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Another way in which First Nations are being targeted are additional attempts to sell charlatan products and healing methods not evidence-based. One example for this is the Adams Lake Band (Secwepemc) in British Columbia, where PoV is selling their courses. The band's Newsletter for September 2013 announces a "Steps to Leadership" programme beginning September 19, 2013 with registration fees amounting to CAD 2,000 per person. The advertisement points out that fees have to be paid in advance.<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/?q=node/128 accessed 15/09/2013</ref> The band's newsletters for November 8, 2012 advertised a "The Path of the Spirit" workshop for the weekend of November 17-18 at CAD 150.<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly" /> The same newsletter displays further advertisements, e.g. for "Transformational & Esoteric Acupuncture" by a Nuage vendor who also does PoV. He seems to be cooperating with the tribal Wellness Deptmt. as the advertisement says they were taking instalment payments. Acupuncture is mainly effective in the way of a placebo and, depending on the hygiene observed by practicioners, may even present dangers to the health of clients. Another person advertises as a Reiki practioner. This is in sharp contrast to courses offered by the tribal government which make evident that membership of the band is far from affluent; one of the courses with one-on-one counseling is titled "Just Got Paid and Don't Have Any Money Left".<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly" />

The band's newsletter dated May 2, 2013 announced one PoV two-day workshop titled "Receiving Gifts & Guidance from Spirit"<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/May_2_13_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref> and another PoV two-day workshop "Living your Purpose" advertised in March 2013.<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/Mar_14_13_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

The St'át'imc have been targeted at least from 2010<ref>http://www.mediacoop.ca/sites/mediacoop.ca/files2/mc/january_10_statimc_runner.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> up to 2012<ref>http://www.tskwaylaxw.com/docs/tfnnewsletter2012nov.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> and workshops were organised in at least one community. For one of these seminars, persons named to contact for more information on seminars were from the tribal council and had respective e-mail addresses.

Another First Nation targeted by PoV courses since at least 2010 are the Stó:lo.<ref>http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/files_new/documents/CFOCJuly-Aug10.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Their Newsletter from July/August 2010 (i.e. at a point in time when AHF funding for residential school survivors had come to an end) carries an article on "Loss and Resilience in First Nation Communities" which, written by a PoV Trainer, addresses the issue of residential schools.

{{OtherLang|en=Psychology of Vision|ge=Psychology of Vision}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedical Therapy]]
[[category:Cult]]

Psychology of Vision

2015-10-05T23:50:22Z

Halbmond: /* System of Seminars */

'''Chuck Spezzano''', full name: Charles Lee Spezzano, is an author of about 40 books in the genre of advice literature, some of which have seen translations to other languages. He is also the inventor of a so-called '''Psychology of Vision''' which he sells on the esoteric market with his wife Lency Spezzano, full name: Lenora Kay Spezzano.

==Biographical Information==

There is only little biographical data obtainable on the Spezzanos, and the biographical information spread by the Spezzanos themselves on various websites, by their publishers, and by students and propagators often varies considerably regarding important details.

===Chuck Spezzano===

According to his website, Spezzano was born in upstate New York and grew up in Pennsylvania.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography">www.psychologyofvision.com/about/chuck-lency-biography/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> However, he does not give any further details as to a date of birth or as much as the year he was born. According to information found at the site of pipl.com, he is 65 years of age, so he must have been born in 1948 or 1947.<ref>“Charles Lee Spezzano, 65 years old, Kaneohe, HI, US, Kahaluu, HI, US“ at https://pipl.com/directory/name/spezzano/charles/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Spezzano claims to have studied to become a priest, to have joined a seminary and taken temporary vows, after which he joined Bethel Park Collegiate seminary and attended Duquesne University, where he claims to have studied Philosophy and Psychology, with a B.A. obtained from this university. He then allegedly gave up his career as a priest, and obtained an M.A. in sociology at Duquesne U., followed by a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from United States International University, San Diego (today: Alliant University) in 1977.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

In another paragraph in the same biography, Spezzano claims to have done both the M.A. and the Ph.D. at USIU. Several websites mention Spezzano having worked at the Naval Drug Rehabilitation Center as a psychologist between 1973 and 1979<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren">www.robert-betz-shop.de/wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren-p-52188.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref><ref name="chuck-lency-spezzano">www.michaelditsch.de/koerper-psyche/chuck-lency-spezzano.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, while Spezzano's own website does not mention any dates of this employment apart from having left this job in the autumn of 1979 to practice privately as a Marriage, Family and Child Counselor.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

Some time after 1983, the Spezzanos moved to Hawaii where they still reside today.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />

===Lency Spezzano===
Biographical data for Lency Spezzano are likewise scarce. On their own website, she claims to have received both a BSc and an MSc degree in Rehabilitation Counselling in 1975 and 1976 from the University of Arizona. This points to a date of birth about 1954. Previous employment is restricted to the information of her having „designed and administered numerous rehabilitation agencies, training programs and treatment facilities“, but her main so-called professional experience seems to be Psychology of Vision from 1984 until today.<ref>www.chuckandlencyspezzano.com/LencySpezzano.htm accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Other internet sources describe her as a „relationship therapist and author“.<ref>www.frankfurter-ring.de/index.php?id=112 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Ms Spezzano has furthermore developed "Joining" which sometimes is described as "PoV's mystical path".<ref name="povevents">www.povevents.com/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

===Grades and Licences===
As was pointed out above, there are differing versions regarding Spezzano's courses of study.

Spezzano did in fact earn a Ph.D., for a dissertation titled: „The words that love made--a poetic phenomenology of the poet's experience of being a poet“, published in 1977.<ref>http://www.worldcat.org/title/words-that-love-made-a-poetic-phenomenology-of-the-poets-experience-of-being-a-poet/oclc/18900196&referer=brief_results accessed 12/09/2013</ref> Such a thesis cannot have been written in Psychology, but rather in Philosophy in which Spezzano only claims a B.A; and the grade obtained in Psychology also seems to have been a B.A. His Master's degree was obtained in Sociology, but the actual dissertation seems inappropriate to earn a Ph.D. in this field.

Similarly varying information is displayed regarding Spezzano's actual degree in Psychology: While Spezzano's websites mention him having worked as a counsellor, other websites claim he earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren" /><ref name="chuck-lency-spezzano" />, including his German publishers<ref>http://www.randomhouse.de/Autor/Chuck_Spezzano/p105313.rhd?pub=8000 accessed 12/08/2013</ref>; the same information, however, is also provided in the book of a British author<ref>Arielle Essex: Compassionate Coaching: How to Heal Your Life and Make Miracles Happen. June 2004, p.</ref>

While claiming to have had a private practice as a psychologist in Californa between 1979 and 1983, information obtainable points to a licence as a „marriage and family therapist“ obtained in the state of California in 1980, quite in congruence with having given up employment at the Naval Rehab Center in 1979. However, this licence expired May 31, 1990 without any renewal.<ref>http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllqryna$lcev2.startup?p_qte_code=LX&p_qte_pgm_code=1800 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> The present licence held for the Spezzano enterprise is for a „Spezzano and Associates, Limited“, issued November 15, 1990 in Hawaii.<ref>http://hbe.ehawaii.gov/documents/business.html?fileNumber=81992D1 accessed 12/09/2013</ref> A licence as a psychologist of whatever specialisation cannot be verified for the state of Hawaii.

An investigative documentary broadcast by Canadian TV station APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) aired on November 9, 2013<ref>http://aptn.ca/pages/news/category/investigates/ accessed 10/11/2013</ref> revealed that neither Chuck nor Lency Spezzano were in a position to call themselves "psychologist"; in fact, in a telecon prior to November 9, Spezzano told the TV station he did not claim the title of a psychologist and went by the lable of "coach".
The TV station also informed the audience that both Chuck and Lency Spezzano were fined by Hawaiian authorities for posing as psychologists in documents used in a custody case, claiming they were licenced Family and Marriage Therapists.<ref>http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/11/09/couple-questions-alternative-healing-groups-activities-haida-gwaii/ accessed 10/11/2013</ref> <ref>http://www.kimberry.com/tipaldi/steve1.html accessed 10/11/2013</ref>

===Esoteric Influences===
In his biography, Spezzano repeatedly mentions to have come into contact with various methods and techniques promoted on the Newage markets, in particular in the fields of commercial life-counseling and self-optimising, and integrated methods and concepts encountered there into his own concept.

According to his own account, he took „his first program seminar call [sic] Lifespring“ when employed at the Naval Drug Rehab Center, i.e. between 1973 and 1977.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> During the same period, he also became involved with „A Course in Miracles“ allegedly pointed out to him by a colleague.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> After 1979, when working as a private practitioner, Spezzano says he volunteered „as a trainer with ARAS, a workshop company with spiritual dimensions“.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" />
A further step is mentioned with: „In 1982 and 1983 he also taught at the Tubb Wholestic [sic] Health Institute in Southern California...“.<ref name="chuck-lency-biography" /> More recently, Spezzano integrated some ideas and practices from the so-called Oneness Movement into the framework of Psychology of Vision.

It must be pointed out that both Lifespring's (now presumably defunct) and A Course in Miracles' activities took place in the field of commerical life counselling, selling courses for personal development and advancement and urging participants to recruit further customers, including targeting their social environment. The Oneness Movement, on the other hand, is selling courses teaching a spirituality based on Eastern thought. Their goal is advancement and enlightenment on a personal level as well as creating a class of individuals privileged by enlightenment, thus indicating a probable totalitarian development and its embracement of the approach of creating super-humans.

====Lifespring====
Lifespring was founded in 1974 by John Hanley as a for-profit New Age resp. Human Potential company selling respective courses; it claims more than 400,000 persons participated in their trainings in the USA. Courses were organised in the three-level program with a "Basic" training, an "Advanced" course, and a three-months "Leadership Program".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifespring accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

There were at least 30 lawsuits against Lifespring, most of which seem to have been settled out of court. However, a 1984 lawsuit awarded $ 800,000 to a person who was hospitalised with mental problems following a Lifespring training. Both a 1992 and a 1993 lawsuit due to mental problems arising in the aftermath of Lifespring trainings were successful, too. At least one lawsuit in 1982 was led over the suicide of a course participant and settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.<ref>http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=983&Itemid=12&limit=1&limitstart=7 accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

The majority of Lifespring students are said to have had a very good education and belonged to the class of so-called Yuppies whom Lifespring promised more success and more happiness. At the same time, Lifespring attempted to convince large companies to have their employees trained by them to have their productivity and ethics increased. An independent study of Lifespring courses in 1981 said that the training systematically undermined the functioning of the ego, reduced the ability of critical thinking in participants, and caused an increasing dependency of participants from the views of their trainer.<ref>Bärbel Schwertfeger: Der Griff nach der Psyche. Was umstrittene Persönlichkeitstrainer in Unternehmen anrichten. 1998, p. 91f</ref>

====A Course in Miracles====
"A Course In Miracles" is the title of a book "scribed" by research psychologist Helen Schucman who claimed the book was channeled to her by Jesus. In her book, Schucman thus presents a re-interpretation of Christian religion, claiming Jesus wanted less suffering, less sacrifice, less separation, and less sacrament, but more love and forgiveness.<ref name="skepdic">http://www.skepdic.com/cim.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref> ACIM is promoted by two organisations, the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) and the Foundation for a Course in Miracles (FACIM), both selling books, seminars, audio- and videotapes, workshops, and seminars.<ref name="skepdic" />

Christian criticism of ACIM points to the fact that it contradicts basic tenets of Christian faith, employs Christian terminology to redefine it with Newage teachings, and supports Newage and occult ideas.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Course_in_Miracles accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

====Oneness====
This is a movement founded by Vijay Kumar, and Indian citizen, who goes by the title of "Kalki Bhagavan". The movement is led by Kumar and his wife, who are addressed as "Sri Amma Bhagavan" by students and followers.<ref name="Bhagavan">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalki_Bhagavan accessed 13/09/2013</ref> The movement has spread to Europe and the USA from an initial Ashram in India. Meanwhile, a temple has been built for an alleged amount of $75 million, and Kumar also operates a "Oneness University" in India, selling advanced courses and trainings.<ref name="Bhagavan" /> Basic courses, like e.g. a training as a so-called Deeksha [blessing] giver, are also done in the USA and European countries.<ref> see e.g. www.deeksha.ch/mainpage/plaintext/onenessdeeksha/diegruender/index.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref><ref>oneness-deutschland.de/uedasprojekt.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

According to a website promoting the movement, both Kumar and his wife did not need a process of spiritual maturing, but were born in a state of oneness with all life and with the obligation to lead humankind to its awakening. Therefore, Kumar and his wife were the male and female aspect of an avatarian consciousness to aid the awakening of humankind.<ref>www.deeksha.ch/mainpage/plaintext/onenessdeeksha/diegruender/index.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

==Author and Lecturer==
Spezzano has written some 40 books of advice literature, many of which have seen translations into other languages. So e.g. there are about 30 of his books presently available in German language. A large part of these were written on partnership problems, presenting advice how to realise and maintain happy relationships or to cope with failed relationships, how to build up durable partnerships etc.

These books are being promoted by Spezzano giving lectures e.g. at Newage congresses in Europe. In February 2013, he did a seminar during the Basel Psi Days in Switzerland, an established annual congress which is being organised by Basel Psi Association since years. The title of this seminar was „What do happy people do differently“, with a fee of CHF 600 being charged from participants, its contents were announced as: 
''How to heal problems with the power of love, how to dissolve mechanisms of defence. This requires us to accept and love ourselves in the first place. We can heal disease, mental and psychological problems once we recognise our subconscious patterns. With both group and individual processes, Chuck Spezzano supports us in detectng and dissolving these limiting patterns, in healing chronic problems, and to introduce joy and happiness back into our lives.''<ref name="bpv.ch">www.bpv.ch/content/referenten/Spezzano.html accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

From September 26-29, 2013, Spezzano will be giving a seminar in Zurich, Switzerland titled „Healing begins in the Heart“, at a fee of CHF 570.<ref>www.imlicht.ch/data/html/bil_2013b_web.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

On October 28, 2013, Spezzano will make an appearance at the annual Bleep Congress in Germany, this year organised in the town of Leverkusen, and do a one-day workshop „How to create a Happy Relationship“ at € 120.<ref>www.bleepkongress.de/referenten-2013/drchuckspezzano accessed 12/09/2013</ref> This congress was spurred by the film „What the Bleep do we know“<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Bleep_Do_We_Know!%3F accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, written and produced by several persons from „Ramtha's School of Enlightenment“<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramtha%27s_School_of_Enlightenment accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, which has been described as cult-like. Although most of the lecturers invited to these congresses come from German-speaking countries, they also had international guests like William Arntz, the producer of the film and student of Ramtha's School, and [[Masaru Emoto]] in 2008, and plastic shaman [[J. Reuben Silverbird]] in 2011.<ref>www.bleepkongress.de/rueckblick/referenten-2011 accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Further seminars in Europe will take place in Frankfurt and Hamburg, with more seminars and trainings being announced for Hawaii and Canada.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/chuck-spezzano/ accessed 12/08/2013</ref>

===Healing Keys===

Although most of Spezzano's books deal with partnership and partnership problems, he also co-authored a book with Janie Ticehurst (or Janie E. Patrick) titled "Healing the Body Through Mind and Metaphor". The book is still available from Spezzano's website, while Ticehurst is selling the e-book version through her site.<ref>www.healingkeys.com/index.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref> While the co-author's name is "Ticehurst" for the e-book, the original paper version seems to have been written at a point in time prior to Ticehurst's marriage under her maiden name of Janie E. Patrick.

The authors claim that a multitude of diseases can be healed with a combination of Keys which they also list:
:''Bonding, Choice, Family Role, Forgiveness, Gifts, Grace, Integration, Letting Go, Love and Bonding Exercise, Purpose, Trust, Truth, Understanding, Willingness.''<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130915043622/http://healingkeys.com/KeyAtoZ.htm</ref> <ref>www.healingkeys.com/KeyAtoZ.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref>

However, some of the diseases the authors recommend to be treated with their set of keys are severe and patients suffering from such diseases should rather go to see an MD: e.g. ALS, AIDS, Appendicitis, Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, Epilepsy, Heart Attack, Hepatitis, Jaundice, Leukemia, Lymphoma Hodgkin's Disease, Meningitis.<ref name="healingkeys">https://web.archive.org/web/20130915052756/http://healingkeys.com/MetaphorAtoZ.htm</ref> <ref>www.healingkeys.com/MetaphorAtoZ.htm accessed 28/09/2013</ref>

The authors claim:
:''Cancer involves the transformation of healthy functioning cells into malignant, or harmful, cells. The altered cells transfer faulty information to their offspring, and the cancerous cells grow in an abnormal and destructive way.
:''Cancer is the embodiment of self-directed anger. It reflects a place of guilt and self-attack.
:''A traumatic situation with a significant other will have taken place between six and eighteen months before the onset of the cancer.
:''At some level, it is an attack on another through self-harm. It highlights that we have a need to give that has gone wild, or is completely misplaced, in addition to a fear of our purpose.[...]
:''Tumors encapsulate our repressed anger, malice and conflicting, hidden belief systems.
:''We are trying to shelter our pain or disappointment and are attempting to hold back negative self-beliefs and evil self-concepts. These mistaken beliefs and self-concepts stem from unresolved emotional fractures and broken hearts.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

This approach clearly lays the blame for a disease on the diseased who is responsible for it. The same is true for handicaps, of which the authors e.g. list Birth Defects, Deafness, or Down's Syndrome. Birth defects are said to represent ''unfinished business from ancestral patterns and/or a past life metaphor. We are being called to heal this soul level issue.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

Their approach to deafness is:
:''It signifies that there is something that we don’t want to hear either about relationship (left ear), or career (right ear).
:''We have a fear of our purpose, and there is something that we are refusing to learn. There is an area where we have cut ourselves off, which is holding us back from joining the dance of life.
:''Because we want to do things our way, there is something we don’t want to hear from others or from within. Deafness means we have some stubbornness and unwillingness to listen and communicate.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

The explanation for Down's Syndrome is:
:''If we have Down’s syndrome, it means that we have come to learn some lessons at a soul level. We are here to seek soul fulfillment and the completion of a cycle, yet we are stuck in the transition between the old level and the new.
:''The two main soul lessons of Down’s syndrome are correcting over-willfulness and giving up the ego’s plan in exchange for heaven’s plan.''<ref name="healingkeys" />

The authors constantly lay the blame for disease and handicap onto the individual who is held responsible, and promise healing to be possible with their "healing keys". Although the authors do not advise diseased persons to abstain from seeing a doctor, they also do not recommend seeking medical advise or help.

However, as of January 2014, Ticehurst has effected changes to the website promoting the book 'Healing Keys'. Links from diseases, as perceived by the authors, to recommended healing keys formerly freely available have been taken down and readers are informed they need to be approved by the site owner prior to having access to the so-called healing metaphors. Ticehurst also deleted all information pointing to her co-author Spezzano from the visible parts of her site. With the changes effected, an advice was added that seeing a doctor was recommended.

==Psychology of Vision==
According to information given at their website, Psychology of Vision was invented by Chuck and Lency Spezzano during the 1980ies. Psychology of Vision, however, is no scientifically recognised method or therapy, and the Spezzano's never submitted this method to scientific journals to obtain peer reviews. Furthermore, with the exception of the above mentioned thesis, there are no scientific publications by either Chuck or Lency Spezzano traceable. Unlike recognised, and many unrecognised, reputable therapies, Spezzano registered „Psychology of Vision“ as a trademark.

===Recent Esoteric and other Influences on Psychology of Vision===
While valid psychological approaches and methods on which PoV may be based do not get specified, there are two esoteric schools which do get mentioned as having influenced respectively still influencing PoV today. These are "A Course in Miracles" and "Oneness" (cf. above).

Another source Spezzano draws from is Tarot readings. His website offers a so-called "three-card reading" for visitors, and he has also published his own decks of cards and interpretations. While there are three different decks available in English language<ref name="amazon">http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Denglish-books&field-keywords=Chuck%20Spezzano accessed 14/08/2013</ref> and one in French<ref name="amazon" />, as many as six different decks of cards have been published in German language, five of them in 2008.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/Chuck-Spezzano/e/B001KCCFPK accessed 14/09/2013</ref>

Spezzano also took up influences from several religions, like the Jewish Kabbalah, Sufism, and also Hinduism.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=4179.50 accessed 04/10/2013</ref>

===Method===
Since Psychology of Vision has never received any peer review and scientific recognition, the efficacy or, for that matter, the ethical standards of the method(s) employed have also never been established and are not controlled.

Various websites claim Psychology of vision was ''„both a healing model and a global community of people teaching and practicing that model. Psychology of Vision is a path of the heart that has helped tens of thousands of people around the world through seminars, one-to-one coaching and its many products and publications. It has helped people improve their lives, their relationships and their health by giving them an understanding of themselves and others, and giving them insights into the events in their lives. It is a model that teaches emotional intelligence through a remembering of Self.“''<ref name="povcanada">povcanada.com/about-us/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Combining an alleged healing model with a global community does not quite reflect a scientific approach or method, but reminds of a cult. The claim of tens of thousands having already been „helped“ (not healed, apparently) remains unsubstantiated and must be viewed as a mere sales pitch. This is supported by the information this help was effected „through seminars, one-to-one coaching and its many products and publications“.<ref name="povcanada" /> This diction, employing commercial vocabulary instead of scientific terms, clearly points out PoV is a commercial enterprise, not a therapy.

In fact identical descriptions as the above quoted are given on PoV-sites worldwide. Sometimes, the adjective „groundbreaking“ is added to describe the „healing model“<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/about-us/ accessed 12/092013 accessed 12/09/2013</ref><ref name="bpv.ch" /><ref name="weltinnenraum">mein.weltinnenraum.de/group/psychologyofvision accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, and claims contend Psychology of Vision combined „modern psychological know-how with spiritual principles“.<ref name="weltinnenraum" /> Another variant claims, somewhat contradictory, that Psychology of Vision represented a „combination of classic psychology with spiritual principles“.<ref name="wenn-alle-menschen-freunde-waeren" />

On the other hand, Spezzano himself seems quite prepared to depreciate psychology, e.g. in an undated interview apparently done prior to the year 2000: 
''„Question: You said yesterday that psychology was a hoax and that psychology was the fastest of slow methods. What did you mean by this?
''CS: Psychology is mainly concerned with the past. But the past has passed! Psychology has lost its way. There are still many individual therapists who know the way. Psychology means the science of the psyche, the soul, but psychology today studies rats and worms. They try to reduce human structure to behavioural patterns and symptoms. It makes everything inhumane. It is a model of science from the last century. Every other science developed further, except for psychology.“<ref>www.stardust-archiv.de/Artikel/gebrochene_herzen.htm accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

===System of Seminars===
Psychology of Vision consists of several series of seminars. The first goal participants are expected to realise is the so-called "100-Day-Program", followed by a "Mastery Program" and a "Trainers' Program". Another set of seminars is offered in the so-called "Steps-to-Leadership-Program", while the "VisionWorks"-Program is targeting students and teachers.

The different workshops offered within the framework of these programmes sometimes provide information regarding how many days participation in the respective courses count, with a range of zero to ten days. Seminars counting zero days do not contribute to the participants' achievement e.g. in their 100-Day-Program. The system is explained on the British website:
''What constitutes a PoV day:
''No coaching sessions given by any PoV trainer count toward a PoV day.
''No study groups, mini-workshops, forums, etc. count toward PoV day even if led by a trainer.
''Exceptions can be made if a trainer teaches a series or a mini-program with curriculum in a closed group where sessions are process led. Mini-programmes count as a maximum of 10 days.
''An evening part of a PoV workshop counts as 0.5 day, eg Friday afternoon/ evening through to Sunday counts as 2.5 days. But, if that evening is open to anyone who does not participate in the complete workshop, it does not count as 0.5 day.''
<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/100-days-programme/accessed 12/09/2013</ref> and the German website<ref name="das-100-tage-programm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-100-tage-programm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, although both versions do vary<ref>''One complete Steps-to-Leadership Programme, counting 15 days, 30 days of Apprenticeship, 10 days of which are to be done in Hawaii. The prerequisite for an Apprenticeship is a minimum of 20 PoV days including 20 Joining sessions and/or the recommendation by a PoV trainer.</ref>

All workshops and seminars offered, however, are subject to a fee. Even so-called "info evenings" for the acquisition of more customers and providing an introduction to PoV, as are organised in the German-language areas, require the purchase of an entrance ticket at € 30,<ref>www.kurt-sommer.com/info/news/infoabend-ueber-psychologie-der-vision-und-steps-to-leadership-training.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, as do so-called study groups titled "Friends helpings Friends" organised every three weeks.<ref>www.anne-kathrin.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=31&lang=de accessed 13/09/2013</ref> While part of these may be taken locally, 10-day seminars done with the Spezzanos, at least one of these in Hawaii, are compulsory. Seminar fees also do not include costs for travel, accomodation and food which come on top of these expenditures.

The system of seminars creates a pyramid in which participants may advance to a higher status within the system which will eventually allow them to direct seminars and generate some income. Prior to this stage, participants will have paid substantial amounts on seminars and courses, as well as on books, DVDs and other material, additional seminars and last not least travel expense.

While many advertisements avoid mentioning seminar fees, there is some information available. In Great Britain, a three-day seminar with one or both of the Spezzanos costs GBP 1,100 (USD 1,763), for another one, the regular price is GBP 800 (USD 1,282). With e.g. an audience of 50 participants, this adds to a receipts of USD 88,150 resp. USD 64,100. Spezzano is further available for private coaching at GBP 1,000 (USD 1,603) per hourly session.<ref>www.povevents.com/healing-comes-from-the-heart/ accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

In comparison, seminars in Germany and Switzerland are not as pricey: a three-day seminar in Switzerland in February 2013 cost CHF 600 (USD 658) per participant.<ref name="bpv.ch" /> During their September 2013 stay in Europe, Spezzano will e.g. do a seminar in Stuttgart at a members' fee of € 365 (USD 493). Another seminar in Hamburg costs € 420 per person (USD 567).

Apprenticeship programmes are priced at $ 3,000 resp. $ 1,550 for 100-Day graduates. As it is limited to 50 participants, receipts for an apprenticeship thus amount to between $ 77,500 and $ 150,000. The Mastery Programme is available for $ 4,000 for 100-Day graduates. The German Steps-to-Leadership programme is sold at € 1,600 (USD 2,162) for the module part only, the three accompanying 3-day seminars have to be paid on top of this sum.

Since some of the compulsory seminars have to be done in Hawaii, and with some taking place with an international audience in India or Thailand, it is obvious that susbstantial amounts of travel expense and accomodation must be added to seminar fees. Further expenses may occur e.g. by participants being asked to intensify Joining lessons before being accepted to a particular programme. Participation in PoV therefore will be quite expensive for the individual, and may result in persons running into debt. Especially when non-affluent persons are being targeted, as is the case in Canada, this may have detrimental effects not only on families but entire communities.

====The 100-Day-Program====
The UK-site claims there are 100-Day graduates "all around the world from Japan to Vancouver, London to Taipei and Geneva to Zambia".<ref>www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/100-days-programme/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> The German section explains the goals of the programme in more detail:
:''"The Psychology of Vision 100-Day-Program provides a profound process of change, during which Chuck and Lency Spezzano or other PoV Seminar Leaders personally engage in the development of every participant. During the entire training, personal growth is given priority. Self-awareness and process-oriented work bring about profound change and basic insights into the dynamics of human consciousness.
:''Another goal of the PoV 100-Day-Program is the teaching of professional tools which enable participants to include the PoV principles into their professional life. Teaching basic methods and concepts of psychology make the focus here.
:''A third goal is to enable 100-Day-Program participants to organise their own seminars. It does not only qualify to perform Psychology of Vision seminars. An important, integral part of the training is the consolidation between individual phases: e.g. attending a study group or participance in a Steps-to-Leadership course."<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />
The 100-Day-Programme has to be completed within five years and courses are to be chosen according to the formula:
:''"15 days of Steps to Leadership + 30 days Apprenticeship + 55 regular PoV days = 100 days within 5 years."''<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />

While the German website first explains it was one goal of the programme to enable participants to organise their own workshops, the ability apparently does not entitle them to sell their own seminars:
:''"Having completed a 100-Day Program is a prerequisite for an eventual entry into the PoV Trainers' programme. It does, however, not entitle to organise and realise Psychology of Vision® seminars. Only Psychology of Vision® trainers are permitted to use the Psychology of Vision® logo and make use of the title of a Psychology of Vision® Trainer.
:''100-Day Graduates will be prefered for assistance (Staff) of Psychology of Vision seminars."''<ref name="das-100-tage-programm" />

It is quite noteworthy that technical details regarding entitlements and seminar credits are explained in more depths than information on contents and methods.

====Mastery Programme====
The British site explains:''"The Mastery Programme is Lency’s dream made manifest."''<ref name="mastery-programme">www.psychologyofvision.co.uk/mastery-programme/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> While the British site says, this programme was ''"for graduates of the 100-Day Programme who want to continue to work at a high level, but who do not feel called to be a Trainer and work in the more structured environment offered in the Trainers Training Programme"''<ref name="mastery-programme" />, the German website offers differing advice: ''"On the other hand, participance in the Mastery Programme is one prerequisite for the application to join the PoV Team of Trainers."''<ref name="das-mastery-programm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-mastery-programm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

This programme is said to centre around a 10-day Graduate Mastery Seminar, with the entire programme taking one year. Further assets are monthly teleseminars with Chuck or Lency Spezzano and a free subscription to three e-courses. The British site mentions the 2007 Mastery Programme started with a seminar on Big Island, Hawaii, while the 2008 programme began with a seminar in India; the cost for the year was figured with US$ 3,500; however, further down at the same site, this amount is then said to refer to the initial 10-day seminar from Jan 19-28, 2012.<ref name="mastery-programme" /> The 2014 10-day Mastery seminar will again take place in Hawaii, with 100-Day graduates facing a fee of US$ 4,000.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=346 accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

With initial 10-day seminars being organised in Hawaii and India, it is quite apparent that the actual expenditure for participants will be substantially higher, in particular since the entire programme takes one year to finish. Neither the British nor the German site offer more information regarding further courses within this programme, with the exception of the advice that "[i]t may be possible that participants of the Mastery Programme will be asked to improve their Joining abilities before they can begin the year's programme".<ref name="das-mastery-programm" />

====Steps-to-Leadership Programme====

Jeff Allen, the UK/Ireland stewart of Psychology of Vision, takes credit for the creation of this course allegedly "designed specifically to provide a structured and accessible explanation of the basic principles of the transformative Psychology of Vision model".<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2">visionworksforlife.com/personal-development/steps-to-leadership-2/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

According to the further description provided, the STL Programme seems to be the 100-Day version condensed:
''"Steps to Leadership covers many of the teachings of Psychology of Vision (PoV) and presents them in 3-hour modules. The principles, lessons, and tools of PoV are synthesised, organised, each building on the previous one. Together they offer a way of engaging with the teachings in a practical and incremental way. When you graduate from the programme, you take with you a firm understanding of the workings of the mind, the blocks that are keeping you stuck, and techniques to overcome them."''<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" /> 
The description also employs the Newage concept of "blocks" needing to be overcome.

The course is offered in two versions, online and physical. The Physical Group course consists of 27 modules of three hours each plus three workshops. The Online Group again consists of three levels made up of 10 modules each: 
:''Level I (Modules 1 to 10 – The Conscious Mind)
:''Level II (Modules 11 – 20 The Subconscious Mind) and
:''Level III (Modules 21 – 30 The Unconscious Mind)
:''Level I consists of 10 three-hour modules. Each module is divided into a pre-learning and live online section. Level II is 9 three-hour modules and a 2-day workshop. Level III is 9 three-hour modules and a 3-day workshop.<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

Fees for these 27 modules as mentioned on German-language websites are € 1,875, minus a rebate for early bookers € 1,665 and another price for repeaters and couples at € 1,560 per person,<ref>www.anne-kathrin.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=36&lang=de accessed 13/09/2013</ref>, or with another trainer at € 1,690, a reduced price of € 1,521 per person for couples, and a special discount of 10% for persons introducing a new participant.<ref>www.kurt-sommer.com/trainings/stepstoleadershipplus.html accessed 13/09/2013</ref>

Regarding the benefits of this course for the students, the British site claims students will discover
:''Comprehensive information on the conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious aspects of our minds
:''Full details on the Triangle, Iceberg and other models of the Psychology of Vision
:''Clear explanations, exercises, discussion points, goal-setting, guided visualisations, and videos.
:''Understand the patterns and blocks in your life and learn tools and techniques to overcome them
:''Examine the dynamics of your life in a safe and supportive environment
:''Gain knowledge of and practise in the principles of the Psychology of Vision model
:''Discover your power to step beyond being a victim or a victimiser
:''Learn the meaning of your life and discover your purpose
:''Find practical ways to inspire your friends and family, and be a leader in your community and the world.<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

These explanations remind more of a conditioning of students with a set of behavioural rules and of thinking rather than a course enabling advancement. Participants are supposed to improve their life with a compulsory toolkit provided by the organisation. Additionally, participants apparently are prompted to proselytise among family and friends, and are baited with the prospect of becoming "leaders". Another incentive is given with pointing out the 10-day credit to the 100-Day-Programme participants will earn, plus obtaining as many as three workbooks which "on completion of the course become life-long reference manuals".<ref name="steps-to-leadership-2" />

The German website additionally mentions some of the issues covered during this programme:
:''Introduction to Psychology of Vision - Phases and stages of relationships - The power of our consciousness - Power struggle - Communication and principles - Projection and forgiveness of transformation - The Triangle model - Personal responsibility and solving problems - Doctrine and patterns - Life-task, vision and fulfilment - The Ego and the higher Self - Emotional evolution - Dependencies and overcoming them "Joining" - Relationships and family dynamics "Love, clemency, and miracles".<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/steps-to-leadership/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

PoV's targeting seems to include business companies, as the introduction of one Canadian trainer claims, she ''"knows firsthand the process a company must go through to make the necessary shifts required to be transformational leaders"''.<ref>povcanada.com/trainers/joanne-roberts/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> If managers or owners recruited by PoV are prompted to run their enterprise according to PoV rules and techniques, this may negatively effect their business operations, as is known from cases in which companies were reorganised according to Scientology standing orders.

====The Trainer Programme====
This information is supplied at the German website and outlines the prerequisites of an application to this programme:
:''Applicants must have graduated from the 100-Day-Programme and have done a Mastery Programme in the previous year. Applications must be announced at least one year prior to handing in the actual application with the director of the Trainer Programme (presently Francine Girard). The announcement should happen until the end of January. Applicants are expected to have taught one course of Steps-to-Leadership on their own with at least four participants until July 1st of the application year. Confirmation of graduation of the Awakening Process by a PoV Trainer. Having read at least three books on Psychology of Vision by either Lency or Chuck Spezzano. Computer access, e-mail, skype, internet, as well as the ability of forthright self-evaluation. Chosing a mentor for the application year.
:''Psychology of Vision Trainers will continue to attend various workshops and will receive support from experienced trainers in the form of supervision.''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/das-trainer-training/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

It is apparent that, due to the considerable advance, the procedure causes a long-term commitment of participants.

====Psychology of Vision for Schools====
This is again further information provided in the German-language section of the PoV website and does not get mentioned in the English-language sections. The programme by the name of [[VisionWorks]] was set up by Sue Allen from the British branch, who is said to be both a PoV Trainer and a teacher, and aims at students and teachers. Since the description points out that the programme is meant to apply to entire classes of students, the main target for recruitment into this programme will apparently be teachers.

Among the aims lined out is:
:''To dissolve conflicts and anger not when they erupt, but, using the right awareness, already in their emergence; Positive emotional intelligence for students; motivating to learn and improving learn processes; communicating emotions forthrightly and without affront; to improve cohesion within grades; Understanding and being understood.
:''VisionWorks programmes supply young people with important abilities for their lives which are useful for themselves, their schools and the entire society.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/visionworks-%E2%80%93-das-schulprogramm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> 
When speaking of dissolving conflicts and anger as they emerge, the programme seems to aim at suppressing conflict and anger rather than providing or teaching adequate methods to deal with and solve them in acceptable ways, or ways to cope with frustration. This eventually will not lead to an improved feeling of cohesion, but to such issues being suppressed and covered up in an atmosphere of reinforced superficial and pretended smiles.

Two sets of benefits are mentioned, one for students, the other for teachers:
:''For students:
:''It helps students to make more positive decisions regarding their behaviour. The establishment of an independent learning behaviour, an increased emotional maturity. It helps students to feel more assured and included at school.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm" />

These benefits listed remind of an instant solution, a shortcut which allegedly realises in the time of one workshop what takes years of maturing in real life. It also indicates a rather mechanistic view of human nature, presuming that, with the appropriate input of methods and techniques, the same results will be reproduceable with every person.

:''VisionWorks for Teachers:
:''Optimising of homeroom classes with simple moduls immediately useable. Improving of behaviour and tolerance in students. Establishing a common language in order to handle conflicts and differing views.''<ref name="das-schulprogramm" />

While this may sound appealing to stressed teachers at first sight, this goes beyond a mechanistic view of human nature as expressed once more in the initial two sentences. The language used bears one striking resemblance to Scientology's redefinitions when differing views are to be "handled". Furthermore, establishing a common language may well mean the implementation of cult-like terms, creating a closed group communicating in a language not understood by outsiders due to the redefinition of words. On the other hand, teaching curricula make it quite evident that differing views are nothing to be handled, but to be encouraged as one result of democratic pluralism. It is also not possible to "handle" conflicts simply by introducing a common language. Students exposed to such procedures will not learn to cope with pluralism, or learn to seek solutions in case of conflicting interests. The course therefore may be quite detrimental to providing students with adequate knowledge and social abilities for their future lives in a democratic society.

====Joining====
This is usually presented as a fairly recent addition to the PoV system, and of course as a „groundbreaking“ method developed by Lency Spezzano. Joining is also described as a healing method. It is sometimes said it was based on an ancient healing method without mentioning its origins explicitely.<ref name="einfach-ja">www.einfach-ja.de/ausgaben/1004/zeitschrift_einfachJA_april-mai2010.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Apparently the method is to establish an eye-contact with a particular person but instead of concentrating on the other person, participants are expected to put the focus on their own feelings and thus „burn“ negative, blocking feelings which are eventually to be healed with the power of love and transformed into positive, inspiring feelings.<ref name="einfach-ja" />

On the other hand, Joining is described as utilising the „feminine, direct access to divine love, resulting in the release of emotional pain from the body/mind and the experience of miracles of forgiveness and grace.“<ref name="povevents" /> These varying descriptions apparently intend to make the method appealing to varying groups of persons.

===Psychology of Vision Trainers===
The trainers available in the various branches are listed in the respective sections of the PoV site, with Chuck and Lency Spezzano usually being listed at the top. The German-language section additionally lists two trainers from Great Britain, one of the a so-called Master Trainer, before introducing German-language trainers who are all Level-1-trainers. The US section names but one person who is the director of the PoV International Programme at the same time.

Trainers do not always mention their previous professional experience, but of those who do, none held a job as a psychologist or claims to have studied psychology. So apart from their exposure to Psychology of Vision (with for some trainers is said to be more than 20 years, in one case since the 1980ies), none of the trainers is a trained psychologist.

In fact, trainers come from various professional backgrounds, like nurse (1), horse trainer (1), alternative practicioner (2), social pedagogue (1), kindergarten nurse (1), trainer at a drama school (1), real estate agent (1), manager (1), executive director of an alternative health institution (1), in a non-specified healing profession (1), anthropologist (1), housewife (2).

Some apply further Newage methods, like Hawaiian bodywork, [[kinesiology]], or waterbalancing. Others claim to have participated in self-awareness and healing seminars, were into indigenous spirituality and have e.g. participated in Sun Dances, or were a student of A Course in Miracles.

From the ranks mentioned, there is a hierarchical system of trainers with Level 1 and Level 2 trainers and Master Trainers. The site does not provide information regarding how to advance in this system nor does it mention any costs connected with this. The Trainers' Manual added to the German section of the PoV site offers more detail regarding the licence fees due to be paid by PoV trainers: 
''"The Licence Fees are: 
''Trainer 1: $ 5.000, - USD 
''Trainer 2: $ 6.750, - USD 
''Trainer 3: $ 7.500, - USD 
''Trainer 4: $ 8.000, - USD"''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf p. 37</ref> 
This fee must be paid annually; the mentioned amounts were due for 2013.

==PoV and its International Branches==
According to the PoV International website, there are seven branches listed: Asia (in Chinese language), Canada, Hawaii (this opens the website of Chuck and Lency Spezzano), Japan (in Japanese), Mainland Europe (so far restricted to German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland, Austria), UK and Ireland, and USA. Individual trainers also have their own websites promoting the sale of PoV-connected courses and, if applicable, courses and seminars in further Newage methods they may apply.

Seminars and workshops are done by almost all of these branches; the notable exception, as becomes apparent from the PoV website, being US mainland. Additionally, there is only one trainer mentioned for US mainland, and she only does events in Canada, but not in the USA. Despite this, the trainer seems to be quite high in rank within the PoV system. The Spezzanos also do not do any workshops or lectures in US mainland, only in Hawaii and in various other countries worldwide.

===Economic activities and companies===
Despite PoV claiming and demanding transparency, there is only little information available online. Apparently, PoV's economic activities are executed by a Hawaii based company "Spezzano and Associates". Another company, PoV DACH GmbH [Ltd.] was founded in Switzerland. Apart from these, most, if not all PoV trainers run their own business, selling PoV-based seminars and workshops either exclusively or accompanied by various other Newage and or CAM methods.

====Spezzano & Associates Ltd.====
This company was founded in Hawaii, but information is rather scarce. It is mentioned in various business platforms, although the information provided differs slighty. According to an entry with the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, the annual sales volume was between USD 500,000 and USD 999,999, and they provide the detail that Lency Spezzano is the company's vice president. The Chamber places Spezzano & Associates in the category of "5 to 9 Employees", with the exact number of employes given as eight.<ref>https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/kaneohe-hi/32602223-spezzano-associates-ltd accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

Another platform provides the detail that Spezzano & Associates was founded in 1998 and is into "Business Services"<ref>
http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k5l8kwp0o/spezzano--associates/ accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref> N.E.C., while still another directory claims their being founded in 1980 already; aditionally, the annual revenue gets listed as USD 1 million with a total of six employees, and their activities are specified as "Lecture Bureau".<ref>http://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/spezzanoassociatesltd-kaneohe-hi-26607011.html accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

====PoV International Association====
A further organisation allegedly maintained is the „International Association of Psychology of Vision“, also named as „Psychology of Vision International Association“, and „PoVIA“ operating in „Mainland Europe“, i.e. presently the countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.<ref> http://www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf accessed</ref> However, the only publications mentioning this PovVIA in any way are the PoV Trainers' Manuals.

====PoV-DACH GmbH====
In Switzerland, a company registered as PoV-DACH GmbH was founded in 2012 as a successor of a liquidated company by the name of „Psychology of Vision DACH“ which has been operating since 2003.

PoV-DACH GmbH is situated in Solothurn/Switzerland with three persons listed as CEOs: Susanne Ernst, Mathias Keller, and Josef Neuschmid. Ernst and Keller are listed as trainers on Psychology of Vision websites, while Neuschmid does not seem to be a trainer but is mentioned in advertisements for lectures and seminars by PoV or Chuck Spezzano in person. According to public information provided by Swiss authorities, all three of them have single signing authority.
The purpose of PoV-DACH GmbH is:
:''“The organisation and conducting of lectures and events in the field of awareness raising, personality development and communication as well as trading goods of all sorts, and realising of further services connected to the main purpose. May adapt related branches of business, hold interest in other enterprises at home or abroad respectively resume or found enterprises, establish branches at home and abroad and furthermore engage in all commercial, financial, and other activities which will further the enterprise's purpose as well as purchase, hold, and sell real estate and properties at home and abroad“''
:''Capital fund: CHF 21,000.00.“''<ref> http://www.moneyhouse.ch/domizil/Solothurn/Vom_Staal-Weg_3.htm accessed Nov. 3. 2014</ref>

The former „Psychology of Vision DACH“ had a far more limited scope of activities:
:''“Date of registration: 09.12.2003
:''Purpose:
:''The Association's purpose is to further personality development, health, and spirituality. This may be achieved, amongst others, by offering courses, seminars, lectures or other events, through public relations as well as by other suitable activities.''<ref>http://www.moneyhouse.ch/u/psychology_of_vision_dach_CH-241.6.003.671-7.htm accessed </ref>
The German version of the Trainers' Manual issued by PoV further requests that all trainers belonging to the PoV Mainland Europe section transfer their annual trainer's licences to an account in Switzerland:
:''“Payment of annual licences must be made in US Dollar per bank transfer to:
:''International Association of Psychology of Vision
:''Vom-Staal-Weg 3, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland
:''Bank address: Credit Suisse (CS)
:''P.O.Box 3xx, 4502 Solothurn, Schweiz
:''Account no: 150 2491xxx
:''[...]
:''All cost for transfering amounts have to be covered by payer.
:''Further inquiries to be made with Susanne Ernst [...]“''<ref>http://www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-03-31_dt_Trainerhandbuch_sec_Endversion.pdf accessed Nov. 3, 2014</ref>

The address given for this International Association is in fact the same postal address as used by the PoV-DACH GmbH.

==PoV Activities and Mode of Operation in Canada==
The Canadian branch merits a closer look, as there are noteworthy differences as compared to the other branches. One is its focus on Steps-to-Leadership Programmes and, therefore, a business clientele. Apart from the above mentioned "Steps to Leadership", this is propagated with a separate website and Facebook group both called "Visionary Leaders Canada". The FB group advertises dates for meetings of a so-called "Corporate Forum" addressing CEOs in particular. The invitations claim: "We are 'The Leaders The World Is Waiting For'." Participation in such a meeting requires an entry fee of CAD 60.00.<ref>www.facebook.com/pages/Visionary-Leaders-Canada/170213319701305 accessed 08/10/2013</ref>

The other difference is its targeting of First Nations. So far, there are activities at several reserves in Canada effecting the nations of Secwepemc (Shuswap), Haida, St'át'imc (Lillooet), Kwagiulth, Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Stó:lo (Coast Salish) and the Iskut Band (Tahltan).

The mode of operation as far as can be established first seems to seek to recruit First Nations individuals to take courses, preferably persons holding positions within tribal governments and administrations. These converts are then expected to proselytise among families, friends, and nations. Presently (September 2013), there are course facilitators and trainers from at least the Haida nation, the Tsimshian, and the Nuxalk (Bella Coola).

One incentive to look for clientele within these usually non-affluent communities may have been the fact that the Canadian government launched funds for the treatment of survivors of residential schools. Residential schools were run by the Canadian government and various denominations for First Nations students from 1876, with the last one being closed in 1996. In some parts of Canada, residential schools were the only option for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children, and about 150,000 children passed through the residential school system.<ref name="Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Education in these schools meant a, sometimes forceful, removal of students from their families. The use of ancestral languages was forbidden. Many children were exposed to physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and some children were also subjected to compulsory sterilisation. The schools also had a high mortality rate due to abuse, suicide, and disease. In 1998, the Canadian government established the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF), provided with CAD 350 million and receiving another CAD 40 million in 2005, to fund community-based healing projects.<ref name="Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system" /> AHF has meanwhile ceased funding operations.

===Unsubstantiated Claims and Double Standards===
The PoV website propagates its methods and goals for First Nations communities: 
:''About 10 years ago Chuck & Lency were inspired to work more closely with First Nations people. The POV Healing Model has been graciously welcomed in many First Nation communities, as it aligns with many First Nations belief systems. Psychology of Vision is dedicated to awakening the giftedness of indigenous peoples on the planet.''<ref name="first-nations">povcanada.com/first-nations/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref> 

The claim of PoV aligning with many First Nations belief systems does not get substantiated in any way and remains a mere assertion. This is also true for the final sentence in this paragraph, contending that PoV was dedicated to awakening the giftedness of indigenous peoples, which expresses a racist view in assuming that indigenous peoples have to be "awakened" to make use of their gifts.

===The First Nations Fund===

The PoV website mentions the existence of a so-called First Nations Fund aimed at supporting the promotion of Psychology of Vision within Native American nations in Canada. The site further explains that a ''"First Nations Fund was created to support the healing of First Nations so they can teach & inspire their own communities. Financial contributions have been generously donated from each country where Psychology of Vision is taught around the world. Since its inception the First Nations Fund has successfully graduated 19 First Nations people from the 100 day program, and 9 of these graduates have become FN Trainers around BC.''<ref name="first-nations" />

It is also noteworthy that the site does not mention which nations these graduates and trainers belong to. Reading the text carefully, it seems this fund only applies to cost of accomodation and food, not to course fees:

:''Applications for the First Nations to subsidize accommodation expenses are on an “as-needs basis” for the upcoming June 2012 Apprenticeship. The funding application deadline is April 30, 2012, applications made after this date may not be considered.''<ref name="first-nations" />

Interestingly, the German-language section of the PoV website contains different information regarding the admission of First Nations participants and the fund:
:''The First Nations Fund came into being as a supply to cope with the numerous problems within the various tribes. Up to now, 25 First Nations have graduated from the 100-Day-Programme and presently, there are 5 First Nations PoV Trainers in Canada introducing their knowledge in various regions and reservations.
:''Generous financial contributions have been made to the fund from all parts of the earth where PoV is being taught.They ensure First Nations to participate in seminars and offer support for travel expense and accomodation during the trainings.''<ref>www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/fonds/first-nations-fond/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>
This wording rather insinuates a funding of course fees as well, although it does not exactly advertise this, and this is not the only instance the different sections of the site provide contradicting information. The differences in figures mentioned for graduates and trainers in the English and German versions are also interesting and do not get explained by PoV. The Canadian site informs readers of seminar descriptions to inquire about special First Nations tuiton prices, with further reductions for couples, seniors, and students available.<ref>www.visionaryleaderscanada.com/ accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

While the English language sections of the site do not offer any further information regarding the Fund, the German language section, and particularly the Trainers' Manual published there, go into far more detail. The German Trainers' Manual contains a section K informing about the Fund which has been left out entirely in the English version of the Trainers' Manual.

At first sight, the Fund intends to give financial support PoV seminars, workshops, and other events provided they are organised in reservations and Native communities for a predominantly Native clientele. Unlike the usual procedure, organising trainers may apply for having their total cost (travel expense, cost for hotels etc if needed, etc.) paid under the Fund. Trainers may even pay their annual Licence Fees in part or in total by organising PoV events within First Nations, and the Manual even provides details regarding the exact amounts trainers will be able to deduct from their Licence Fee per seminar: e.g. the amount of USD 350 for a full seminar day and USD 175 for half a seminar day.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf p. 48</ref>

Native persons applying to become trainers also may be supported by the First Nations Fund. However, applicants are supposed to provide details regarding in which way their becoming a trainer will contribute to the „wellbeing of the planet“. The Manual provides guidelines here in mentioning that applicants may assert they are going to introduce PoV methods to their tribal elders and traditional representatives, within their families and communities, and to introduce their superiors within tribal managements and administration structures to PoV and PoV methods, prompting them to book seminars and apply PoV themselves within personal life and work environment. The applicants' success is then controled through compulsory quarterly reports.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf e.g. p. 45</ref>

While the Manual does not provide any information on how the Fund is financed, or information regarding the actual use of monies by the Fund – with the exception of an amount of USD 100 per month paid to the Fund Manager -, persons or communities receiving funding are expected to grant transparency regarding the use of amounts towards PoV.

The FN Fund thus provides incentives to organise events within First Nations and invites both First Nation trainer applicants and applicants trying to obtain funding of seminar fees to recruit persons not only from their families and communities, but in particular from traditional as well as administrative and management structures.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-dt-Trainerhandbuch.pdf e.g. p. 50f</ref> This may be seen as a systematic and multi-level targeting of First Nations.

===Front organisations and multiple targeting===

In at least one case, PoV made use of a front organisation applying for public and private funding via a [[Ngystle Society]]. The society's website neither mentions a non-profit status nor does it provide information on its managing board.<ref>ngystlesociety.com accessed 12/09/2013</ref> However, Ngystle Society received as much as CAD 475,300 from the Aboriginal Health Foundation to provide counseling to the Haida nation, the funding having ended in March 2010.<ref>http://www.ahf.ca/funded-projects/british-columbia/ngystle-society accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Ngystle Society received some further CAD 270,000 between 2004 and 2009 from the Gwaii Trust.<ref>http://www.gwaiitrust.com/project_archive/index.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref> The Gwaii Trust, however, has stopped its funding of "Healthy Humans" projects and revised its policy so that core funding and applications for repetitive grants are no longer possible.<ref>http://www.gwaiitrust.com/programs/index.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Since then, Ngystle Society continues to promote PoV seminars as well as further Newage products and treatments, in particular an [[Amethyst Bio-Mat]] and a device named [[Trinfinity8]] for a variety of uses ranging from rejuvenation to pain relief and as a treatment of diseases. Ngystle Society also cooperates with so-called shaman Erick Gonzalez, a Guatemaltekan living in the USA who claims to be Maya, but goes with a name taken from the Aztec Nahuatl language.<ref>www.mayanshamanism.com/about.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Already in September 2012, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a warning on Gonzalez for the suspected use of drugs like Peyote, [[Ayahuasca]], and Mescaline during alleged religious ceremonies.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>

Another organisation used by PoV seems to be "Kelmuc Circle of Friendship Society" which at least in one case was named as the organisation accepting checks in payment of a PoV seminar taking place at the reserve of the Adams Lake Band.<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly">http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/Nov_8_12_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

Another way in which First Nations are being targeted are additional attempts to sell charlatan products and healing methods not evidence-based. One example for this is the Adams Lake Band (Secwepemc) in British Columbia, where PoV is selling their courses. The band's Newsletter for September 2013 announces a "Steps to Leadership" programme beginning September 19, 2013 with registration fees amounting to CAD 2,000 per person. The advertisement points out that fees have to be paid in advance.<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/?q=node/128 accessed 15/09/2013</ref> The band's newsletters for November 8, 2012 advertised a "The Path of the Spirit" workshop for the weekend of November 17-18 at CAD 150.<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly" /> The same newsletter displays further advertisements, e.g. for "Transformational & Esoteric Acupuncture" by a Nuage vendor who also does PoV. He seems to be cooperating with the tribal Wellness Deptmt. as the advertisement says they were taking instalment payments. Acupuncture is mainly effective in the way of a placebo and, depending on the hygiene observed by practicioners, may even present dangers to the health of clients. Another person advertises as a Reiki practioner. This is in sharp contrast to courses offered by the tribal government which make evident that membership of the band is far from affluent; one of the courses with one-on-one counseling is titled "Just Got Paid and Don't Have Any Money Left".<ref name="Nov_8_12_News_Weekly" />

The band's newsletter dated May 2, 2013 announced one PoV two-day workshop titled "Receiving Gifts & Guidance from Spirit"<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/May_2_13_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref> and another PoV two-day workshop "Living your Purpose" advertised in March 2013.<ref>http://www.adamslakeband.org/sites/default/files/Mar_14_13_News_Weekly.pdf accessed 12/09/2013</ref>

The St'át'imc have been targeted at least from 2010<ref>http://www.mediacoop.ca/sites/mediacoop.ca/files2/mc/january_10_statimc_runner.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> up to 2012<ref>http://www.tskwaylaxw.com/docs/tfnnewsletter2012nov.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> and workshops were organised in at least one community. For one of these seminars, persons named to contact for more information on seminars were from the tribal council and had respective e-mail addresses.

Another First Nation targeted by PoV courses since at least 2010 are the Stó:lo.<ref>http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/files_new/documents/CFOCJuly-Aug10.pdf accessed 15/09/2013</ref> Their Newsletter from July/August 2010 (i.e. at a point in time when AHF funding for residential school survivors had come to an end) carries an article on "Loss and Resilience in First Nation Communities" which, written by a PoV Trainer, addresses the issue of residential schools.

{{OtherLang|en=Psychology of Vision|ge=Psychology of Vision}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedical Therapy]]
[[category:Cult]]

Francis Talbot

2015-10-01T15:21:18Z

Halbmond: /* Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims */

[[image:Manitonquat2.png|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
[[image:Manitonquat3.jpg|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK3,750 (€397) and SEK3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK2,050 resp. SEK1,300 (€ and € ) and 4-14 paying SEK1,000 resp. SEK900 (€ and €).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK100 (€10) per night resp. SEK200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

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2015-10-01T12:09:20Z

Halbmond: Rejected the last text change (by 127.0.0.1) and restored revision 2712 by Omikronn

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Ayahuasca

2015-09-26T14:56:37Z

Halbmond:

The concoction used and named „Ayahuasca“ in the Newage scene is a tea prepared from the South American Ayahuasca liana to which other plants of various pharmaceutical effects will be added. Mostly, this will be the so-called Chacruna, botanical name Psychotria viridis.<ref> http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_viridis accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Due to the diverse range of possible mixtures, a broad variety of effects on the human organism is achieved. Ayahuasca is a drug used traditionally by several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, where its use is restricted to medicine persons employing it to diagnose the cause of an illness in a patient.

==Use of Ayahuasca beyond an indigenous Context==
Since several decades, Ayahuasca is being used by recent religious movements in Brazil who meanwhile founded branches in Europe and in the USA. Additionally, more and more trips to predominantly Peruvian Plastic Shamans are offered in the USA and Europe. One decisive difference of the use of Ayahuasca outside of an indigenous context is who consumes the drug: while in indigenous ethnic groups, use is restricted to medicine persons, in new religious movements as well as in Newage circles, the drug will be consumed by believers resp. by the paying clients. Contrary to indigenous use, the retreats offered in a Newage context will have clients take Ayahuasca as often as every other day.

===Brazil===
There are several recent religious movements in Brazil which employ Ayahuasca as a sacrament. The eldest of these churches is Santo Daime which was founded in the 1930ies by Raimundo Irineu Serre who blended information obtained from a Peruvian Ayahuascero with components of the Christian faith, combined with his own revelations.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Likewise, União do Vegetal (UDV) blends Ayahuasca with Christian topics. UDV came into being during the 1960ies but claims roots from the 10th century B.P.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniao_do_Vegetal accessed 11/02/2012</ref> This church was founded by José Gabriel da Costa.

Barquinha is a split-off from Santo Daime and was founded in 1945.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barquinha accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Europe and USA===
Meanwhile, these Ayahuasca churches have established branches in Europe and in the USA, although in most countries, at least one of the substances used in Ayahuasca is illegal under the respective Dangerous Drugs Laws. On the other hand, more recent court verdicts in several countries have ruled that religious use of Ayahuasca (due to legal loopholes) was permitted.<ref>e. g. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Furthermore, Ayahuasca has been popularised within the Newage scene and promoted as a cure for a multitude of diseases, establishing a tourism to alleged shamans, some of whom are also actively touring various Newage congresses and fairs to promote their services.

It must be pointed out that these persons do not happen to be genuine indigenous medicine persons and the vast majority are no member of any indigenous ethnic group. Therefore, they were never trained by indigenous medicine persons and often have a rather limited knowledge about the plants they administer or about the possible effects and cross-effects these may cause, nor do they have much of a knowledge of the indigenous ceremonies they imitate. It is even voiced within the Newage scene that the „shamans“ aiming at a European/US clientele use completely different songs than indigenous medicine persons do.<ref>http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

This already becomes apparent from the biographical information provided on websites promoting plastic shamans using Ayahuasca on their clients: one „shaman“ is introduced as a „fisher, sculptor, and researcher of the Moche culture“<ref name="tingan">http://www.tingan.info/unsere_projekte_files/indi-pro.htm accessed 11/02/2012</ref>, another one as a „musician, sculptor, and curandero (healer) in the tradition of several tribe of Amazonia“<ref name="tingan" />, with the mere mention of the traditions of several ethnic groups being a clear indicator the person is a plastic shaman. Still another vendor's father is said to have been abducted by „savages“ who raised him; the son is said to have inherited „the savageness“ and to have „survived live-or-death fights in the jungle and in the slums of Iquitos and Lima“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra">http://www.don-pedro-guerra.net accessed 11/02/2012</ref> The latter information presumably far more appropriately reflects the real biography. The websites promoting this „shaman“ are particularly characterised by a use of racist stereotypes on indigenous peoples and their alleged savageness and dangerousness<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> and e.g. claim the „shaman“ was „more of an Indian than a mestizo“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> The racism inherent in these claims apparently is not being noticed by site owners and clients, or probably taken for a proof of particular „authenticity“.

Another „shaman“ is US-based Erick Gonzalez who also administers further substances like Mescaline and Peyote to his clients. He is also active in Canada, where he is being promoted by [[Ngystle Society]] and also seems to cooperate with [[Psychology of Vision]]. Canadian RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) already in September 2013 issued a warning regarding Gonzalez' various activities.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Gonzalez claims to be a Maya shaman but his family migrated from Guatemala to California when he was only 11 years of age. The apprenticeship resp. shamanic initiation he claims must therefore rather be seen as a sales pitch; Gonzalez however claims to have been adopted by another plastic shaman by the name of Francisco Jimenez aka Tlakaelel who claimed to be a Toltec (the Toltec have not been around as an ethnic entity for some 800 years, i.e. since pre-Columbian times). Although Gonzalez claims to be Maya, it is assumed that he is of a very distant ancestry or has no ancestry at all.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3420.0 accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Furthermore, the substances employed by Gonzalez, although known by indigenous medicine persons, are not domestic in Guatemala, therefore his having had access to traditional knowledge and use in this respect is to be highly doubted.

===Claims of Healing of Disease by Ayahuasca===
While in an indigenous context, Ayahuasca is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, its use in the Newage scene undergoes a rededication to become a remedy consumed by the client which is quite congruent with the non-indigenous domestic use of these substances in the respective South American countries. Although part of the Newage scene does mention the use of substances by indigenous ethnic groups,<ref>see e. g. http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref> the completely different handling by Newage vendors does not get addressed.

Ayahuasca is thus promoted as a cure for a broad variety of diseases, including particularly serious conditions, by the Newage scene. Most often it is propagated as a cure for cancer<ref>e. g. http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref> and abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol), which means that a potent hallucinogenic drug is expected to cause detoxification.<ref>e. g. http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Other diseases mentioned are Parkinson's Syndrome,<ref name="jaii">http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> mental disorders,<ref name="jaii" /> and AIDS.<ref>http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A plastic shaman established in the German language market characterises Ayahuasca more or less as a cure-all: ''“With this ceremony, myriads of persons have been healed, even from serious diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, leucemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, depression etc.“''<ref name="indianerpfad">http://www.indianerpfad.de/seite74.html accessed 04.11.2012</ref> Another vendor claims: ''“In Peru, we specialise in the following diseases: anxieties, alcoholism, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, auto-immune diseases, high blood pressure, borreliosis, high cholesterine levels, fatigue, depression, diabetes, drug abuse, gastritis, inflammation of joints, abscesses, various skin diseases, heart diseases, hormone problems, dropsy, impotence, infections, inner pressure, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, menopause, migraine, kidney diseases, rheumatism, thyroid diseases, sterility, stress, problems of substance abuse, insomnia, tumours, tuberculosis.“''<ref>http://www.joven-murayari.de/krankheiten-heilpflanzen/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> Other vendors are more reluctant about naming precise diseases which, however, tends to make the claims sound even more ambitious: ''“Since Ayahuasca works on all levels, it is possible to heal rare and serious diseases which cannot be cured by conventional remedies.“''<ref>http://www.sankenowe.com/ayahuasca-de.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

„Sein“, a German-language Newage magazine, published an article promoting a Peruvian plastic shaman whose approach reminds of the views of antisemite [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] and his [[Germanic New Medicine]]: ''“Don Pedro specialises on psychosomatic medicine and also has clients diagnosed with cancer who reject conventional chemotherapy, trusting him instead. I did not witness resp. could not check actual healing successes, but a woman from Austria told me her serious liver tumour, in the final stage, was treated in the jungle and was found not to be detectable any longer a year later. Don Pedro views disease foremost as the expression of psychological conflicts, thus his views is not much different from Western psychosomatic approaches“.''<ref>http://www.sein.de/archiv/2005/mai-2005/der-curandero-der-meisterpflanzen--heilung-durch-schamanismus.html accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Vendors and their Prices===
Many of the vendors are of Peruvian nationality and run so-called „retreats“ in their home country. In some cases, a relative is living in Europe, directing clientele towards the family enterprise via an occupation as an alleged shaman. Other vendors are Europeans organising travels to Peru<ref name="otorongo">http://www.otorongo.net/ accessed 04.11.2012</ref>; still others mention Ayahuasca ceremonies conducted in the Netherlands.<ref name="indianerpfad" /> Only a small number of vendors dare to openly publish on their websites they are doing Ayahuasca ceremonies.<ref name="schamanismus-tantra">http://www.schamanismus-tantra.at/ayahuasca.html accessed 11/06/2012</ref><ref>http://tatatonga.ch/zeremonialreisen/ecuador-panacocha/index.php accessed 11/06/2012; this website promotes „ceremonies“ taking place in Switzerland as well as travels to Ecuador</ref> With other vendors, it remains unclear whether ceremonies are taking place in German-language regions or in South America. Another strategy is the cover-up: the brew is not given its appropriate name but gets offered by the moniker „Ayaruna“, and respective seminars in Germany and Austria including the consumption of Ayahuasca by participants are being promoted in this way.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A good part of the mentioned retreats is situated in the northeast of Peru in the Iquitos region. Another centre of retreats seems to be the city of Cusco; however, Ayahuasca does not belong to the traditionally known cures in the Cusco region, so these vendors most probably are likewise uninformed plastic shamans. This becomes evident when one of these vendors offers an allegedly traditional medicine plant for internal cleansing which he spells „Laxitiwe“ in imitation of the spelling of Quechua language.<ref>http://schamanischeszentrumperu.yolasite.com/laxitiwe.php accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

Pricing assumes a high level. Stays in retreats are sold from two and three weeks upwards, but sojourns of one week or of one or several months are possible, too. The daily fees range between € 60 and € 170. With longer sojourns booked, daily prices decrease, with one vendor asking a daily fee of € 40 when the client books a four-months stay or longer. A usual trip of about three weeks results in „treatment costs“ between € 1,700 and € 2,700.<ref>see e. g. http://www.otorongo.net accessed 11/04/2012, http://www.schamanischreisen.de/36.html and http://www.joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> These prices, with the exception of but a few vendors, exclude costs of air travel from Europe/USA to Peru and from Lima to Iquitos; the prices cover accomodation, food, „treatment“, and the consumption of Ayahuasca and other so-called medicine plants.

Vendors marketing seminars in Europe sell events of a restricted duration. In one case, retreats of two, three, or five days are offered in Austria; the costs vary between € 490, € 690, and € 1,050 including accomodation and food (uncooked vegetarian or vegan).<ref name="schamanismus-tantra" /> The same vendor, in 2009, asked € 270 for the first Ayahuasca ritual, € 243 for the second, and € 216 for the third and following rituals, including accomodation and breakfast.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2372.0 accessed 06.11.2012</ref> Another vendor organises two-day seminars in Austria and Germany which include the consumption of Ayahuasca at a price of € 200 per participant, excluding accomodation, food, and rental cost of the so-called ceremonial centre.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/termine/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

A possibility to put these prices in perspective is offered on the site of Marburg University: ''“The price for about 500 ml of Ayahuasca is approximately 20 Nuevos Soles (app. € 4). Depending on the number of participants, the potency of the Ayahuasca brew, and personal habits of the shaman, such a bottle will last several sessions“''; this information refers to the usual market price in a domestic Peruvian, non-indigenous context.<ref name="uni-marburg">http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/vk/titelseiten/ayahuasca accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

===Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption===
In most retreats, clients will not only be served Ayahuasca, but also other concoctions to prepare them for the Ayahuasca trip. Fatalities have occured both after the consumption of Ayahuasca as well as after that of so-called "tobacco tea" prior to the Ayahuasca experience.

====Deaths due to Ayahuasca====
In August 2012, a US tourist died after having taken the Ayahuasca brew. The case caused quite some commotion, since the plastic shaman attempted to cover up the death and dumped the body. The efforts of the deceased person's family resulted in the shaman eventually admitting to have disposed the body. In contradiction to claims made in advertisements for his premises, the „shaman“ did not closely monitor the client after the consumption of Ayahuasca, but had left him alone in a hut; when the man was found the next morning, he had been dead for some time already. The tourist had paid the amount of US$ 1,200 to consume Ayahuasca.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202459/Kyle-Joseph-Nolan-death-Peruvian-shaman-confesses-buried-body-U-S-teen-spiritual-retreat.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Shortly afterwards, there were accounts on websites claiming that it was a regular practice for this shaman to leave clients alone during trips, since the shaman claimed to be able to telepathically monitor clients while watching TV. Further absurd claims made by this shaman were also published, so e.g. he claimed to be a descendant of Marsians who settled the continents of Atlantis and Lemuria. Other reports said the shaman did not prepare the Ayahuasca brew himself but bought it in the local market, so that he did not know its exact consistency and potency.<ref>http://www.rpp.com.pe/2012-09-11-madre-de-dios-curandero-confeso-que-enterro-a-joven-norteamericano-noticia_520815.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

====Deaths from preparatory concoctions====
Two more fatalities occured in 2015, apparently not due to the consumption of Ayahuasca, but of a so-called "tobacco tea" served in preparation for the Ayahuasca brew.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref><ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref> Matthew Dawson-Clarke, aged 24, was served tobacco tea at the Kapitari Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru, and died of cardiac arrest. According to newspaper reports, he had consumed the tea in the morning and remained ill all day, with cardiac arrest occuring at 6.30 p.m. Only when first aid measures did not provide any result, Dawson-Clarke eventually was taken to an Iquitos hospital but proclaimed dead there.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref>

Canadian citizen Jennifer Logan, 32, likewise took ill after consuming tobacco tea "in a ceremony with a shaman". Logan, too, had to be transported to a hospital by boat and motorcycle but was beyond help upon arrival. An autopsy established Logan died of pulmonary edema. She had booked a fortnight's retreat at Canto Luz Centre outside Puerto Maldonado.<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref>

Canto Luz is a retreat operated by a white European with a Peruvian person functioning as a "shaman". Canto Luz is owned by one Mariya Garnet, a Russian who migrated to Canada in 2000 and claims to have taken up "healing shamanism" already in Siberia. The retreat's shaman Reyna Luz Edery Flores is described as ''"the main mestizo ayahuascquera"''[sic}. Since the term "mestizo" is applied to characterise Edery Flores, she does not seem to have any tribal affiliation.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!team/c13md</ref> Canto Luz offers retreats for seven and 14 days at prices of USD 950 resp. USD 1,850.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!retreats-overview/c1i7j</ref> They publish several videos on YouTube to attract customers and seem a rather recently addition on the market, as a fundraising appeal set up in order to provide Garnet with finances to buy the premises was published in early 2013, with the additional information the retreat was going to open April 1, 2013. The fundraising campaign had a goal of USD 20,000 and managed to raise USD 31,665 from 133 persons in about one month.<ref>https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/call-to-action-join-us-in-preserving-traditional-wisdom-pristine-amazon#/story</ref>

Kapitari Center, where the other fatality occured, claims to be run by a Peruvian shaman by the name of Luis Culquiton aka Don Lucho, and there is no information whether these premises are owned by Culquiton or whether he, too, serves as a front man. Culquiton, quite in line with usual advertisement, gets portrayed as coming "from a long line of natural healers", still the website claims "he discovered the healing qualities of plants himself, at a very early age", "an established, self-educated shaman"<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ </ref>, and "he never underwent a formal apprenticeship under another shaman".<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/about-don-lucho/</ref> Instead of being seen as positive, these phrases should be taken as a severe warning by clients that booking may mean their participation in a large experiment of "trial and error".

Kapitari, too, offers seven and 14 day retreats, with a seven-day retreat amounting to USD 650 and including four Ayahuasca trips and a "purge with tobacco juice". The site further advises: ''"The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and involves a 45 minute walk so you must be able bodied."''<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/</ref> The death of one Kapitari client reveals plainly that this distance is a further danger to clients in case medical help is needed.

Another interesting aspect is the information the Kapitari website provides regarding where cash receipts will end up:
:''"Of the $650 that you pay us:
:''$300 goes to Kapitari and Don Lucho. A portion of which pays for the running of Kapitari and anything left over is spent on Don Lucho’s permaculture and community projects.
:''$300 is split between the retreat facilitators & Outer Travels Inner Journeys.
:''$50 is given as an additional bonus to the Peruvian staff at Kapitari who work hard all week to look after the guests."''<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/ </ref>
The largest part of receipts are split between the "shaman", the "retreat facilitators" and the travel agency, and the description of "retreat facilitators" is ambiguous and does not necessarily mean the retreat staff. If this was the case, a far more plain way for website maintainers were to say: USD 200 go to the Peruvian staff and USD 150 to Outer Travels. So while this information creates the impression of transparency, the vagueness and scarcity of details provided indeed will rather obfuscate than explain.

==Consequences for the Indigenous Population==
The indigenous population often oppose the abuse of plants they use, as well as their being commercialised, and taking the plants out of their traditional context. Furthermore, a reckless exploitation of indigenous medicinal plants is taking place, by persons also exploiting indigenous ceremonies and cultures in order to sell them to tourists. Another aspect criticised is the approach of entitlement held by Newage-affine tourists who mean to buy access to experience and medicine.

Some websites promoting travels to South American plastic shamans explicitly describe that only a small part of the population, if any, will profit from the sale of ceremonies. Since the Newage tourists will do an Ayahuasca trip every other day, resulting in a recreation period during the following day, the domestic economy is left out of this form of tourism. Additionally, the retreats are situated in remote regions, and travelers are dependant on the means of transport provided by retreat operators.

Another important aspect is that apparently a fair number of retreats are not in domestic ownership, but are operated with a local plastic shaman employed as a front man by the European or US owner of the premises. This means that, same as with multi-national tourist business, the respective domestic economies do in no way benefit from profits obtained from these activities. Only few websites make this as apparent as the one maintained by an Austrian psychologist who is also mentioned in the site's imprint.<ref name="otorongo" /> Since the psychologist describes himself as a resident of Austrian St. Valentin but also claims to be a resident of Peru, it is not clear whether he will be on the premises during the sojourns sold to tourists. More quite interesting reading material is provided with the exemption clauses mentioned on his website. Furthermore, the above mentioned retreat where a US tourist died after consuming Ayahuasca is also said not to be in the ownership of the local plastic shaman but is owned by a US citizen.<ref>http://latina-press.com/news/134978-nach-tod-von-us-buerger-bekaempfung-der-scharlatanerie-in-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedicine]]
[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Ayahuasca

2015-09-26T14:49:16Z

Halbmond: /* Deaths from preparatory concoctions */

The concoction used and named „Ayahuasca“ in the Newage scene is a tea prepared from the South American Ayahuasca liana to which other plants of various pharmaceutical effects will be added. Mostly, this will be the so-called Chacruna, botanical name Psychotria viridis.<ref> http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_viridis accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Due to the diverse range of possible mixtures, a broad variety of effects on the human organism is achieved. Ayahuasca is a drug used traditionally by several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, where its use is restricted to medicine persons employing it to diagnose the cause of an illness in a patient.

==Use of Ayahuasca beyond an indigenous Context==
Since several decades, Ayahuasca is being used by recent religious movements in Brazil who meanwhile founded branches in Europe and in the USA. Additionally, more and more trips to predominantly Peruvian Plastic Shamans are offered in the USA and Europe. One decisive difference of the use of Ayahuasca outside of an indigenous context is who consumes the drug: while in indigenous ethnic groups, use is restricted to medicine persons, in new religious movements as well as in Newage circles, the drug will be consumed by believers resp. by the paying clients. Contrary to indigenous use, the retreats offered in a Newage context will have clients take Ayahuasca as often as every other day.

===Brazil===
There are several recent religious movements in Brazil which employ Ayahuasca as a sacrament. The eldest of these churches is Santo Daime which was founded in the 1930ies by Raimundo Irineu Serre who blended information obtained from a Peruvian Ayahuascero with components of the Christian faith, combined with his own revelations.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Likewise, União do Vegetal (UDV) blends Ayahuasca with Christian topics. UDV came into being during the 1960ies but claims roots from the 10th century B.P.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniao_do_Vegetal accessed 11/02/2012</ref> This church was founded by José Gabriel da Costa.

Barquinha is a split-off from Santo Daime and was founded in 1945.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barquinha accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Europe and USA===
Meanwhile, these Ayahuasca churches have established branches in Europe and in the USA, although in most countries, at least one of the substances used in Ayahuasca is illegal under the respective Dangerous Drugs Laws. On the other hand, more recent court verdicts in several countries have ruled that religious use of Ayahuasca (due to legal loopholes) was permitted. <ref>e. g. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Furthermore, Ayahuasca has been popularised within the Newage scene and promoted as a cure for a multitude of diseases, establishing a tourism to alleged shamans, some of whom are also actively touring various Newage congresses and fairs to promote their services.

It must be pointed out that these persons do not happen to be genuine indigenous medicine persons and the vast majority are no member of any indigenous ethnic group. Therefore, they were never trained by indigenous medicine persons and often have a rather limited knowledge about the plants they administer or about the possible effects and cross-effects these may cause, nor do they have much of a knowledge of the indigenous ceremonies they imitate. It is even voiced within the Newage scene that the „shamans“ aiming at a European/US clientele use completely different songs than indigenous medicine persons do.<ref>http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

This already becomes apparent from the biographical information provided on websites promoting plastic shamans using Ayahuasca on their clients: one „shaman“ is introduced as a „fisher, sculptor, and researcher of the Moche culture“<ref name="tingan">http://www.tingan.info/unsere_projekte_files/indi-pro.htm accessed 11/02/2012</ref>, another one as a „musician, sculptor, and curandero (healer) in the tradition of several tribe of Amazonia“<ref name="tingan" />, with the mere mention of the traditions of several ethnic groups being a clear indicator the person is a plastic shaman. Still another vendor's father is said to have been abducted by „savages“ who raised him; the son is said to have inherited „the savageness“ and to have „survived live-or-death fights in the jungle and in the slums of Iquitos and Lima“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra">http://www.don-pedro-guerra.net abgerufen 02.11.2012</ref> The latter information presumably far more appropriately reflects the real biography. The websites promoting this „shaman“ are particularly characterised by a use of racist stereotypes on indigenous peoples and their alleged savageness and dangerousness<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> and e.g. claim the „shaman“ was „more of an Indian than a mestizo“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> The racism inherent in these claims apparently is not being noticed by site owners and clients, or probably taken for a proof of particular „authenticity“.

Another „shaman“ is US-based Erick Gonzalez who also administers further substances like Mescaline and Peyote to his clients. He is also active in Canada, where he is being promoted by [[Ngystle Society]] and also seems to cooperate with [[Psychology of Vision]]. Canadian RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) already in September 2013 issued a warning regarding Gonzalez' various activities.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Gonzalez claims to be a Maya shaman but his family migrated from Guatemala to California when he was only 11 years of age. The apprenticeship resp. shamanic initiation he claims must therefore rather be seen as a sales pitch; Gonzalez however claims to have been adopted by another plastic shaman by the name of Francisco Jimenez aka Tlakaelel who claimed to be a Toltec (the Toltec have not been around as an ethnic entity for some 800 years, i.e. since pre-Columbian times). Although Gonzalez claims to be Maya, it is assumed that he is of a very distant ancestry or has no ancestry at all.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3420.0 accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Furthermore, the substances employed by Gonzalez, although known by indigenous medicine persons, are not domestic in Guatemala, therefore his having had access to traditional knowledge and use in this respect is to be highly doubted.

===Claims of Healing of Disease by Ayahuasca===
While in an indigenous context, Ayahuasca is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, its use in the Newage scene undergoes a rededication to become a remedy consumed by the client which is quite congruent with the non-indigenous domestic use of these substances in the respective South American countries. Although part of the Newage scene does mention the use of substances by indigenous ethnic groups,<ref>see e. g. http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref> the completely different handling by Newage vendors does not get addressed.

Ayahuasca is thus promoted as a cure for a broad variety of diseases, including particularly serious conditions, by the Newage scene. Most often it is propagated as a cure for cancer<ref>e. g. http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref> and abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol), which means that a potent hallucinogenic drug is expected to cause detoxification.<ref>e. g. http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Other diseases mentioned are Parkinson's Syndrome,<ref name="jaii">http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> mental disorders,<ref name="jaii" /> and AIDS.<ref>http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A plastic shaman established in the German language market characterises Ayahuasca more or less as a cure-all: ''“With this ceremony, myriads of persons have been healed, even from serious diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, leucemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, depression etc.“''<ref name="indianerpfad">http://www.indianerpfad.de/seite74.html abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref> Another vendor claims: ''“In Peru, we specialise in the following diseases: anxieties, alcoholism, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, auto-immune diseases, high blood pressure, borreliosis, high cholesterine levels, fatigue, depression, diabetes, drug abuse, gastritis, inflammation of joints, abscesses, various skin diseases, heart diseases, hormone problems, dropsy, impotence, infections, inner pressure, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, menopause, migraine, kidney diseases, rheumatism, thyroid diseases, sterility, stress, problems of substance abuse, insomnia, tumours, tuberculosis.“''<ref>http://www.joven-murayari.de/krankheiten-heilpflanzen/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> Other vendors are more reluctant about naming precise diseases which, however, tends to make the claims sound even more ambitious: ''“Since Ayahuasca works on all levels, it is possible to heal rare and serious diseases which cannot be cured by conventional remedies.“''<ref>http://www.sankenowe.com/ayahuasca-de.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

„Sein“, a German-language Newage magazine, published an article promoting a Peruvian plastic shaman whose approach reminds of the views of antisemite [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] and his [[Germanic New Medicine]]: ''“Don Pedro specialises on psychosomatic medicine and also has clients diagnosed with cancer who reject conventional chemotherapy, trusting him instead. I did not witness resp could not check actual healing successes, but a woman from Austria told me her serious liver tumour, in the final stage, was treated in the jungle and was found not to be detectable any longer a year later. Don Pedro views disease foremost as the expression of psychological conflicts, thus his views is not much different from Western psychosomatic approaches“.''<ref>http://www.sein.de/archiv/2005/mai-2005/der-curandero-der-meisterpflanzen--heilung-durch-schamanismus.html accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Vendors and their Prices===
Many of the vendors are of Peruvian nationality and run so-called „retreats“ in their home country. In some cases, a relative is living in Europe, directing clientele towards the family enterprise via an occupation as an alleged shaman. Other vendors are Europeans organising travels to Peru<ref name="otorongo">http://www.otorongo.net/ abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref>; still others mention Ayahuasca ceremonies conducted in the Netherlands.<ref name="indianerpfad" /> Only a small number of vendors dare to openly publish on their websites they are doing Ayahuasca ceremonies.<ref name="schamanismus-tantra">http://www.schamanismus-tantra.at/ayahuasca.html accessed 11/06/2012</ref><ref>http://tatatonga.ch/zeremonialreisen/ecuador-panacocha/index.php accessed 11/06/2012; this website promotes „ceremonies“ taking place in Switzerland as well as travels to Ecuador</ref> With other vendors, it remains unclear whether ceremonies are taking place in German-language regions or in South America. Another strategy is the cover-up: the brew is not given its appropriate name but gets offered by the moniker „Ayaruna“, and respective seminars in Germany and Austria including the consumption of Ayahuasca by participants are being promoted in this way.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A good part of the mentioned retreats is situated in the northeast of Peru in the Iquitos region. Another centre of retreats seems to be the city of Cusco; however, Ayahuasca does not belong to the traditionally known cures in the Cusco region, so these vendors most probably are likewise uninformed plastic shamans. This becomes evident when one of these vendors offers an allegedly traditional medicine plant for internal cleansing which he spells „Laxitiwe“ in imitation of the spelling of Quechua language.<ref>http://schamanischeszentrumperu.yolasite.com/laxitiwe.php accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

Pricing assumes a high level. Stays in retreats are sold from two and three weeks upwards, but sojourns of one week or of one or several months are possible, too. The daily fees range between € 60 and € 170. With longer sojourns booked, daily prices decrease, with one vendor asking a daily fee of € 40 when the client books a four-months stay or longer. A usual trip of about three weeks results in „treatment costs“ between € 1,700 and € 2,700.<ref>see e. g. http://www.otorongo.net accessed 11/04/2012, http://www.schamanischreisen.de/36.html and http://www.joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> These prices, with the exception of but a few vendors, exclude costs of air travel from Europe/USA to Peru and from Lima to Iquitos; the prices cover accomodation, food, „treatment“, and the consumption of Ayahuasca and other so-called medicine plants.

Vendors marketing seminars in Europe sell events of a restricted duration. In one case, retreats of two, three, or five days are offered in Austria; the costs vary between € 490, € 690, and € 1,050 including accomodation and food (uncooked vegetarian or vegan).<ref name="schamanismus-tantra" /> The same vendor, in 2009, asked € 270 for the first Ayahuasca ritual, € 243 for the second, and € 216 for the third and following rituals, including accomodation and breakfast.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2372.0 accessed 06.11.2012</ref> Another vendor organises two-day seminars in Austria and Germany which include the consumption of Ayahuasca at a price of € 200 per participant, excluding accomodation, food, and rental cost of the so-called ceremonial centre.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/termine/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

A possibility to put these prices in perspective is offered on the site of Marburg University: ''“The price for about 500 ml of Ayahuasca is approximately 20 Nuevos Soles (app. € 4). Depending on the number of participants, the potency of the Ayahuasca brew, and personal habits of the shaman, such a bottle will last several sessions“''; this information refers to the usual market price in a domestic Peruvian, non-indigenous context.<ref name="uni-marburg">http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/vk/titelseiten/ayahuasca accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

===Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption===
In most retreats, clients will not only be served Ayahuasca, but also other concoctions to prepare them for the Ayahuasca trip. Fatalities have occured both after the consumption of Ayahuasca as well as after that of so-called "tobacco tea" prior to the Ayahuasca experience.

====Deaths due to Ayahuasca====

In August 2012, a US tourist died after having taken the Ayahuasca brew. The case caused quite some commotion, since the plastic shaman attempted to cover up the death and dumped the body. The efforts of the deceased person's family resulted in the shaman eventually admitting to have disposed the body. In contradiction to claims made in advertisements for his premises, the „shaman“ did not closely monitor the client after the consumption of Ayahuasca, but had left him alone in a hut; when the man was found the next morning, he had been dead for some time already. The tourist had paid the amount of US$ 1,200 to consume Ayahuasca.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202459/Kyle-Joseph-Nolan-death-Peruvian-shaman-confesses-buried-body-U-S-teen-spiritual-retreat.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Shortly afterwards, there were accounts on websites claiming that it was a regular practice for this shaman to leave clients alone during trips, since the shaman claimed to be able to telepathically monitor clients while watching TV. Further absurd claims made by this shaman were also published, so e.g. he claimed to be a descendant of Marsians who settled the continents of Atlantis and Lemuria. Other reports said the shaman did not prepare the Ayahuasca brew himself but bought it in the local market, so that he did not know its exact consistency and potency.<ref>http://www.rpp.com.pe/2012-09-11-madre-de-dios-curandero-confeso-que-enterro-a-joven-norteamericano-noticia_520815.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

====Deaths from preparatory concoctions====
Two more fatalities occured in 2015, apparently not due to the consumption of Ayahuasca, but of a so-called "tobacco tea" served in preparation for the Ayahuasca brew.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref><ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref> Matthew Dawson-Clarke, aged 24, was served tobacco tea at the Kapitari Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru, and died of cardiac arrest. According to newspaper reports, he had consumed the tea in the morning and remained ill all day, with cardiac arrest occuring at 6.30 p.m. Only when first aid measures did not provide any result, Dawson-Clarke eventually was taken to an Iquitos hospital but proclaimed dead there.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref>

Canadian citizen Jennifer Logan, 32, likewise took ill after consuming tobacco tea "in a ceremony with a shaman". Logan, too, had to be transported to a hospital by boat and motorcycle but was beyond help upon arrival. An autopsy established Logan died of pulmonary edema. She had booked a fortnight's retreat at Canto Luz Centre outside Puerto Maldonado.<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref>

Canto Luz is a retreat operated by a white European with a Peruvian person functioning as a "shaman". Canto Luz is owned by one Mariya Garnet, a Russian who migrated to Canada in 2000 and claims to have taken up "healing shamanism" already in Siberia. The retreat's shaman Reyna Luz Edery Flores is described as ''"the main mestizo ayahuascquera"''[sic}. Since the term "mestizo" is applied to characterise Edery Flores, she does not seem to have any tribal affiliation.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!team/c13md</ref> Canto Luz offers retreats for seven and 14 days at prices of USD 950 resp. USD 1,850.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!retreats-overview/c1i7j</ref> They publish several videos on YouTube to attract customers and seem a rather recently addition on the market, as a fundraising appeal set up in order to provide Garnet with finances to buy the premises was published in early 2013, with the additional information the retreat was going to open April 1, 2013. The fundraising campaign had a goal of USD 20,000 and managed to raise USD 31,665 from 133 persons in about one month.<ref>https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/call-to-action-join-us-in-preserving-traditional-wisdom-pristine-amazon#/story</ref>

Kapitari Center, where the other fatality occured, claims to be run by a Peruvian shaman by the name of Luis Culquiton aka Don Lucho, and there is no information whether these premises are owned by Culquiton or whether he, too, serves as a front man. Culquiton, quite in line with usual advertisement, gets portrayed as coming "from a long line of natural healers", still the website claims "he discovered the healing qualities of plants himself, at a very early age", "an established, self-educated shaman"<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ </ref>, and "he never underwent a formal apprenticeship under another shaman".<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/about-don-lucho/</ref> Instead of being seen as positive, these phrases should be taken as a severe warning by clients that booking may mean their participation in a large experiment of "trial and error".

Kapitari, too, offers seven and 14 day retreats, with a seven-day retreat amounting to USD 650 and including four Ayahuasca trips and a "purge with tobacco juice". The site further advises: ''"The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and involves a 45 minute walk so you must be able bodied."''<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/</ref> The death of one Kapitari client reveals plainly that this distance is a further danger to clients in case medical help is needed.

Another interesting aspect is the information the Kapitari website provides regarding where cash receipts will end up:
:''"Of the $650 that you pay us:
:''$300 goes to Kapitari and Don Lucho. A portion of which pays for the running of Kapitari and anything left over is spent on Don Lucho’s permaculture and community projects.
:''$300 is split between the retreat facilitators & Outer Travels Inner Journeys.
:''$50 is given as an additional bonus to the Peruvian staff at Kapitari who work hard all week to look after the guests."''<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/ </ref>
The largest part of receipts are split between the "shaman", the "retreat facilitators" and the travel agency, and the description of "retreat facilitators" is ambiguous and does not necessarily mean the retreat staff. If this was the case, a far more plain way for website maintainers were to say: USD 200 go to the Peruvian staff and USD 150 to Outer Travels. So while this information creates the impression of transparency, the vagueness and scarcity of details provided indeed will rather obfuscate than explain.

==Consequences for the Indigenous Population==
The indigenous population often oppose the abuse of plants they use, as well as their being commercialised, and taking the plants out of their traditional context. Furthermore, a reckless exploitation of indigenous medicinal plants is taking place, by persons also exploiting indigenous ceremonies and cultures in order to sell them to tourists. Another aspect criticised is the approach of entitlement held by Newage-affine tourists who mean to buy access to experience and medicine.

Some websites promoting travels to South American plastic shamans explicitly describe that only a small part of the population, if any, will profit from the sale of ceremonies. Since the Newage tourists will do an Ayahuasca trip every other day, resulting in a recreation period during the following day, the domestic economy is left out of this form of tourism. Additionally, the retreats are situated in remote regions, and travelers are dependant on the means of transport provided by retreat operators.

Another important aspect is that apparently a fair number of retreats are not in domestic ownership, but are operated with a local plastic shaman employed as a front man by the European or US owner of the premises. This means that, same as with multi-national tourist business, the respective domestic economies do in no way benefit from profits obtained from these activities. Only few websites make this as apparent as the one maintained by an Austrian psychologist who is also mentioned in the site's imprint.<ref name="otorongo" /> Since the psychologist describes himself as a resident of Austrian St. Valentin but also claims to be a resident of Peru, it is not clear whether he will be on the premises during the sojourns sold to tourists. More quite interesting reading material is provided with the exemption clauses mentioned on his website. Furthermore, the above mentioned retreat where a US tourist died after consuming Ayahuasca is also said not to be in the ownership of the local plastic shaman but is owned by a US citizen.<ref>http://latina-press.com/news/134978-nach-tod-von-us-buerger-bekaempfung-der-scharlatanerie-in-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedicine]]
[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Ayahuasca

2015-09-25T17:21:52Z

Halbmond: /* Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption */

The concoction used and named „Ayahuasca“ in the Newage scene is a tea prepared from the South American Ayahuasca liana to which other plants of various pharmaceutical effects will be added. Mostly, this will be the so-called Chacruna, botanical name Psychotria viridis.<ref> http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_viridis accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Due to the diverse range of possible mixtures, a broad variety of effects on the human organism is achieved. Ayahuasca is a drug used traditionally by several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, where its use is restricted to medicine persons employing it to diagnose the cause of an illness in a patient.

==Use of Ayahuasca beyond an indigenous Context==
Since several decades, Ayahuasca is being used by recent religious movements in Brazil who meanwhile founded branches in Europe and in the USA. Additionally, more and more trips to predominantly Peruvian Plastic Shamans are offered in the USA and Europe. One decisive difference of the use of Ayahuasca outside of an indigenous context is who consumes the drug: while in indigenous ethnic groups, use is restricted to medicine persons, in new religious movements as well as in Newage circles, the drug will be consumed by believers resp. by the paying clients. Contrary to indigenous use, the retreats offered in a Newage context will have clients take Ayahuasca as often as every other day.

===Brazil===
There are several recent religious movements in Brazil which employ Ayahuasca as a sacrament. The eldest of these churches is Santo Daime which was founded in the 1930ies by Raimundo Irineu Serre who blended information obtained from a Peruvian Ayahuascero with components of the Christian faith, combined with his own revelations.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Likewise, União do Vegetal (UDV) blends Ayahuasca with Christian topics. UDV came into being during the 1960ies but claims roots from the 10th century B.P.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniao_do_Vegetal accessed 11/02/2012</ref> This church was founded by José Gabriel da Costa.

Barquinha is a split-off from Santo Daime and was founded in 1945.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barquinha accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Europe and USA===
Meanwhile, these Ayahuasca churches have established branches in Europe and in the USA, although in most countries, at least one of the substances used in Ayahuasca is illegal under the respective Dangerous Drugs Laws. On the other hand, more recent court verdicts in several countries have ruled that religious use of Ayahuasca (due to legal loopholes) was permitted. <ref>e. g. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Furthermore, Ayahuasca has been popularised within the Newage scene and promoted as a cure for a multitude of diseases, establishing a tourism to alleged shamans, some of whom are also actively touring various Newage congresses and fairs to promote their services.

It must be pointed out that these persons do not happen to be genuine indigenous medicine persons and the vast majority are no member of any indigenous ethnic group. Therefore, they were never trained by indigenous medicine persons and often have a rather limited knowledge about the plants they administer or about the possible effects and cross-effects these may cause, nor do they have much of a knowledge of the indigenous ceremonies they imitate. It is even voiced within the Newage scene that the „shamans“ aiming at a European/US clientele use completely different songs than indigenous medicine persons do.<ref>http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

This already becomes apparent from the biographical information provided on websites promoting plastic shamans using Ayahuasca on their clients: one „shaman“ is introduced as a „fisher, sculptor, and researcher of the Moche culture“<ref name="tingan">http://www.tingan.info/unsere_projekte_files/indi-pro.htm accessed 11/02/2012</ref>, another one as a „musician, sculptor, and curandero (healer) in the tradition of several tribe of Amazonia“<ref name="tingan" />, with the mere mention of the traditions of several ethnic groups being a clear indicator the person is a plastic shaman. Still another vendor's father is said to have been abducted by „savages“ who raised him; the son is said to have inherited „the savageness“ and to have „survived live-or-death fights in the jungle and in the slums of Iquitos and Lima“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra">http://www.don-pedro-guerra.net abgerufen 02.11.2012</ref> The latter information presumably far more appropriately reflects the real biography. The websites promoting this „shaman“ are particularly characterised by a use of racist stereotypes on indigenous peoples and their alleged savageness and dangerousness<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> and e.g. claim the „shaman“ was „more of an Indian than a mestizo“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> The racism inherent in these claims apparently is not being noticed by site owners and clients, or probably taken for a proof of particular „authenticity“.

Another „shaman“ is US-based Erick Gonzalez who also administers further substances like Mescaline and Peyote to his clients. He is also active in Canada, where he is being promoted by [[Ngystle Society]] and also seems to cooperate with [[Psychology of Vision]]. Canadian RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) already in September 2013 issued a warning regarding Gonzalez' various activities.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Gonzalez claims to be a Maya shaman but his family migrated from Guatemala to California when he was only 11 years of age. The apprenticeship resp. shamanic initiation he claims must therefore rather be seen as a sales pitch; Gonzalez however claims to have been adopted by another plastic shaman by the name of Francisco Jimenez aka Tlakaelel who claimed to be a Toltec (the Toltec have not been around as an ethnic entity for some 800 years, i.e. since pre-Columbian times). Although Gonzalez claims to be Maya, it is assumed that he is of a very distant ancestry or has no ancestry at all.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3420.0 accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Furthermore, the substances employed by Gonzalez, although known by indigenous medicine persons, are not domestic in Guatemala, therefore his having had access to traditional knowledge and use in this respect is to be highly doubted.

===Claims of Healing of Disease by Ayahuasca===
While in an indigenous context, Ayahuasca is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, its use in the Newage scene undergoes a rededication to become a remedy consumed by the client which is quite congruent with the non-indigenous domestic use of these substances in the respective South American countries. Although part of the Newage scene does mention the use of substances by indigenous ethnic groups,<ref>see e. g. http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref> the completely different handling by Newage vendors does not get addressed.

Ayahuasca is thus promoted as a cure for a broad variety of diseases, including particularly serious conditions, by the Newage scene. Most often it is propagated as a cure for cancer<ref>e. g. http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref> and abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol), which means that a potent hallucinogenic drug is expected to cause detoxification.<ref>e. g. http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Other diseases mentioned are Parkinson's Syndrome,<ref name="jaii">http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> mental disorders,<ref name="jaii" /> and AIDS.<ref>http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A plastic shaman established in the German language market characterises Ayahuasca more or less as a cure-all: ''“With this ceremony, myriads of persons have been healed, even from serious diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, leucemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, depression etc.“''<ref name="indianerpfad">http://www.indianerpfad.de/seite74.html abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref> Another vendor claims: ''“In Peru, we specialise in the following diseases: anxieties, alcoholism, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, auto-immune diseases, high blood pressure, borreliosis, high cholesterine levels, fatigue, depression, diabetes, drug abuse, gastritis, inflammation of joints, abscesses, various skin diseases, heart diseases, hormone problems, dropsy, impotence, infections, inner pressure, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, menopause, migraine, kidney diseases, rheumatism, thyroid diseases, sterility, stress, problems of substance abuse, insomnia, tumours, tuberculosis.“''<ref>http://www.joven-murayari.de/krankheiten-heilpflanzen/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> Other vendors are more reluctant about naming precise diseases which, however, tends to make the claims sound even more ambitious: ''“Since Ayahuasca works on all levels, it is possible to heal rare and serious diseases which cannot be cured by conventional remedies.“''<ref>http://www.sankenowe.com/ayahuasca-de.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

„Sein“, a German-language Newage magazine, published an article promoting a Peruvian plastic shaman whose approach reminds of the views of antisemite [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] and his [[Germanic New Medicine]]: ''“Don Pedro specialises on psychosomatic medicine and also has clients diagnosed with cancer who reject conventional chemotherapy, trusting him instead. I did not witness resp could not check actual healing successes, but a woman from Austria told me her serious liver tumour, in the final stage, was treated in the jungle and was found not to be detectable any longer a year later. Don Pedro views disease foremost as the expression of psychological conflicts, thus his views is not much different from Western psychosomatic approaches“.''<ref>http://www.sein.de/archiv/2005/mai-2005/der-curandero-der-meisterpflanzen--heilung-durch-schamanismus.html accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Vendors and their Prices===
Many of the vendors are of Peruvian nationality and run so-called „retreats“ in their home country. In some cases, a relative is living in Europe, directing clientele towards the family enterprise via an occupation as an alleged shaman. Other vendors are Europeans organising travels to Peru<ref name="otorongo">http://www.otorongo.net/ abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref>; still others mention Ayahuasca ceremonies conducted in the Netherlands.<ref name="indianerpfad" /> Only a small number of vendors dare to openly publish on their websites they are doing Ayahuasca ceremonies.<ref name="schamanismus-tantra">http://www.schamanismus-tantra.at/ayahuasca.html accessed 11/06/2012</ref><ref>http://tatatonga.ch/zeremonialreisen/ecuador-panacocha/index.php accessed 11/06/2012; this website promotes „ceremonies“ taking place in Switzerland as well as travels to Ecuador</ref> With other vendors, it remains unclear whether ceremonies are taking place in German-language regions or in South America. Another strategy is the cover-up: the brew is not given its appropriate name but gets offered by the moniker „Ayaruna“, and respective seminars in Germany and Austria including the consumption of Ayahuasca by participants are being promoted in this way.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A good part of the mentioned retreats is situated in the northeast of Peru in the Iquitos region. Another centre of retreats seems to be the city of Cusco; however, Ayahuasca does not belong to the traditionally known cures in the Cusco region, so these vendors most probably are likewise uninformed plastic shamans. This becomes evident when one of these vendors offers an allegedly traditional medicine plant for internal cleansing which he spells „Laxitiwe“ in imitation of the spelling of Quechua language.<ref>http://schamanischeszentrumperu.yolasite.com/laxitiwe.php accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

Pricing assumes a high level. Stays in retreats are sold from two and three weeks upwards, but sojourns of one week or of one or several months are possible, too. The daily fees range between € 60 and € 170. With longer sojourns booked, daily prices decrease, with one vendor asking a daily fee of € 40 when the client books a four-months stay or longer. A usual trip of about three weeks results in „treatment costs“ between € 1,700 and € 2,700.<ref>see e. g. http://www.otorongo.net accessed 11/04/2012, http://www.schamanischreisen.de/36.html and http://www.joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> These prices, with the exception of but a few vendors, exclude costs of air travel from Europe/USA to Peru and from Lima to Iquitos; the prices cover accomodation, food, „treatment“, and the consumption of Ayahuasca and other so-called medicine plants.

Vendors marketing seminars in Europe sell events of a restricted duration. In one case, retreats of two, three, or five days are offered in Austria; the costs vary between € 490, € 690, and € 1,050 including accomodation and food (uncooked vegetarian or vegan).<ref name="schamanismus-tantra" /> The same vendor, in 2009, asked € 270 for the first Ayahuasca ritual, € 243 for the second, and € 216 for the third and following rituals, including accomodation and breakfast.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2372.0 accessed 06.11.2012</ref> Another vendor organises two-day seminars in Austria and Germany which include the consumption of Ayahuasca at a price of € 200 per participant, excluding accomodation, food, and rental cost of the so-called ceremonial centre.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/termine/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

A possibility to put these prices in perspective is offered on the site of Marburg University: ''“The price for about 500 ml of Ayahuasca is approximately 20 Nuevos Soles (app. € 4). Depending on the number of participants, the potency of the Ayahuasca brew, and personal habits of the shaman, such a bottle will last several sessions“''; this information refers to the usual market price in a domestic Peruvian, non-indigenous context.<ref name="uni-marburg">http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/vk/titelseiten/ayahuasca accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

===Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption===
In most retreats, clients will not only be served Ayahuasca, but also other concoctions to prepare them for the Ayahuasca trip. Fatalities have occured both after the consumption of Ayahuasca as well as after that of so-called "tobacco tea" prior to the Ayahuasca experience.

====Deaths due to Ayahuasca====

In August 2012, a US tourist died after having taken the Ayahuasca brew. The case caused quite some commotion, since the plastic shaman attempted to cover up the death and dumped the body. The efforts of the deceased person's family resulted in the shaman eventually admitting to have disposed the body. In contradiction to claims made in advertisements for his premises, the „shaman“ did not closely monitor the client after the consumption of Ayahuasca, but had left him alone in a hut; when the man was found the next morning, he had been dead for some time already. The tourist had paid the amount of US$ 1,200 to consume Ayahuasca.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202459/Kyle-Joseph-Nolan-death-Peruvian-shaman-confesses-buried-body-U-S-teen-spiritual-retreat.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Shortly afterwards, there were accounts on websites claiming that it was a regular practice for this shaman to leave clients alone during trips, since the shaman claimed to be able to telepathically monitor clients while watching TV. Further absurd claims made by this shaman were also published, so e.g. he claimed to be a descendant of Marsians who settled the continents of Atlantis and Lemuria. Other reports said the shaman did not prepare the Ayahuasca brew himself but bought it in the local market, so that he did not know its exact consistency and potency.<ref>http://www.rpp.com.pe/2012-09-11-madre-de-dios-curandero-confeso-que-enterro-a-joven-norteamericano-noticia_520815.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

====Deaths from preparatory concoctions====
Two more fatalities occured in 2015, apparently not due to the consumption of Ayahuasca, but of a so-called "tobacco tea" served in preparation for the Ayahuasca brew.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref><ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref> Matthew Dawson-Clarke, aged 24, was served tobacco tea at the Kapitari Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru, and died of cardiac arrest. According to newspaper reports, he had consumed the tea in the morning and remained ill all day, with cardiac arrest occuring at 6.30 p.m. Only when first aid measures did not provide any result, Dawson-Clarke eventually was taken to an Iquitos hospital but proclaimed dead there.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref>

Canadian citizen Jennifer Logan, 32, likewise took ill after consuming tobacco tea "in a ceremony with a shaman". Logan, too, had to be transported to a hospital by boat and motorcycle but was beyond help upon arrival. An autopsy established Logan died of pulmonary edema. She had booked a fortnight's retreat at Canto Luz Centre outside Puerto Maldonado.<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref>

Canto Luz is a retreat operated by a white European with a Peruvian person functioning as a "shaman". Canto Luz is owned by one Mariya Garnet, a Russian who migrated to Canada in 2000 and claims to have taken up "healing shamanism" already in Siberia. The retreat's shaman Reyna Luz Edery Flores is described as ''"the main mestizo ayahuascquera"''[sic}. Since the term "mestizo" is applied to characterise Edery Flores, she does not seem to have any tribal affiliation.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!team/c13md</ref> Canto Luz offers retreats for seven and 14 days at prices of USD 950 resp. USD 1,850.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!retreats-overview/c1i7j</ref> They publish several videos on YouTube to attract customers and seem a rather recently addition on the market, as a fundraising appeal set up in order to provide Garnet with finances to buy the premises was published in early 2013, with the additional information the retreat was going to open April 1, 2013. The fundraising campaign had a goal of USD 20,000 and managed to raise USD 31,665 from 133 persons in about one month.<ref>https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/call-to-action-join-us-in-preserving-traditional-wisdom-pristine-amazon#/story</ref>

Kapitari Center, where the other fatality occured, claims to be run by a Peruvian shaman by the name of Luis Culquiton aka Don Lucho, and there is no information whether these premises are owned by Culquiton or whether he, too, serves as a front man. Culquiton, quite in line with usual advertisement, gets portrayed as coming "from a long line of natural healers", still the website claims "he discovered the healing qualities of plants himself, at a very early age", "an established, self-educated shaman"<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ </ref>, and "he never underwent a formal apprenticeship under another shaman".<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/about-don-lucho/</ref> Instead of being seen as positive, these phrases should be taken as a severe warning by clients that booking may mean their participation in a large experiment of "trial and error".

Kapitari, too, offers seven and 14 day retreats, with a seven-day retreat amounting to USD 650 and including four Ayahuasca trips and a "purge with tobacco juice". The site further advises: ''"The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and involves a 45 minute walk so you must be able bodied."''<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/</ref> The death of one Kapitari client reveals plainly that this distance is a further danger to clients in case medical help is needed.

Another interesting aspect is the information the Kapitari website provides regarding where cash receipts will end up:
:''"Of the $650 that you pay us:
''$300 goes to Kapitari and Don Lucho. A portion of which pays for the running of Kapitari and anything left over is spent on Don Lucho’s permaculture and community projects.
''$300 is split between the retreat facilitators & Outer Travels Inner Journeys.
''$50 is given as an additional bonus to the Peruvian staff at Kapitari who work hard all week to look after the guests."<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/ </ref>
The largest part of receipts are split between the "shaman", the "retreat facilitators" and the travel agency, and the description of "retreat facilitators" is ambiguous and does not necessarily mean the retreat staff. If this was the case, a far more plain way for website maintainers were to say: USD 200 go to the Peruvian staff and USD 150 to Outer Travels.

==Consequences for the Indigenous Population==
The indigenous population often oppose the abuse of plants they use, as well as their being commercialised, and taking the plants out of their traditional context. Furthermore, a reckless exploitation of indigenous medicinal plants is taking place, by persons also exploiting indigenous ceremonies and cultures in order to sell them to tourists. Another aspect criticised is the approach of entitlement held by Newage-affine tourists who mean to buy access to experience and medicine.

Some websites promoting travels to South American plastic shamans explicitly describe that only a small part of the population, if any, will profit from the sale of ceremonies. Since the Newage tourists will do an Ayahuasca trip every other day, resulting in a recreation period during the following day, the domestic economy is left out of this form of tourism. Additionally, the retreats are situated in remote regions, and travelers are dependant on the means of transport provided by retreat operators.

Another important aspect is that apparently a fair number of retreats are not in domestic ownership, but are operated with a local plastic shaman employed as a front man by the European or US owner of the premises. This means that, same as with multi-national tourist business, the respective domestic economies do in no way benefit from profits obtained from these activities. Only few websites make this as apparent as the one maintained by an Austrian psychologist who is also mentioned in the site's imprint.<ref name="otorongo" /> Since the psychologist describes himself as a resident of Austrian St. Valentin but also claims to be a resident of Peru, it is not clear whether he will be on the premises during the sojourns sold to tourists. More quite interesting reading material is provided with the exemption clauses mentioned on his website. Furthermore, the above mentioned retreat where a US tourist died after consuming Ayahuasca is also said not to be in the ownership of the local plastic shaman but is owned by a US citizen.<ref>http://latina-press.com/news/134978-nach-tod-von-us-buerger-bekaempfung-der-scharlatanerie-in-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedicine]]
[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Ayahuasca

2015-09-25T17:18:48Z

Halbmond: /* Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption */

The concoction used and named „Ayahuasca“ in the Newage scene is a tea prepared from the South American Ayahuasca liana to which other plants of various pharmaceutical effects will be added. Mostly, this will be the so-called Chacruna, botanical name Psychotria viridis.<ref> http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_viridis accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Due to the diverse range of possible mixtures, a broad variety of effects on the human organism is achieved. Ayahuasca is a drug used traditionally by several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, where its use is restricted to medicine persons employing it to diagnose the cause of an illness in a patient.

==Use of Ayahuasca beyond an indigenous Context==
Since several decades, Ayahuasca is being used by recent religious movements in Brazil who meanwhile founded branches in Europe and in the USA. Additionally, more and more trips to predominantly Peruvian Plastic Shamans are offered in the USA and Europe. One decisive difference of the use of Ayahuasca outside of an indigenous context is who consumes the drug: while in indigenous ethnic groups, use is restricted to medicine persons, in new religious movements as well as in Newage circles, the drug will be consumed by believers resp. by the paying clients. Contrary to indigenous use, the retreats offered in a Newage context will have clients take Ayahuasca as often as every other day.

===Brazil===
There are several recent religious movements in Brazil which employ Ayahuasca as a sacrament. The eldest of these churches is Santo Daime which was founded in the 1930ies by Raimundo Irineu Serre who blended information obtained from a Peruvian Ayahuascero with components of the Christian faith, combined with his own revelations.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Likewise, União do Vegetal (UDV) blends Ayahuasca with Christian topics. UDV came into being during the 1960ies but claims roots from the 10th century B.P.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniao_do_Vegetal accessed 11/02/2012</ref> This church was founded by José Gabriel da Costa.

Barquinha is a split-off from Santo Daime and was founded in 1945.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barquinha accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Europe and USA===
Meanwhile, these Ayahuasca churches have established branches in Europe and in the USA, although in most countries, at least one of the substances used in Ayahuasca is illegal under the respective Dangerous Drugs Laws. On the other hand, more recent court verdicts in several countries have ruled that religious use of Ayahuasca (due to legal loopholes) was permitted. <ref>e. g. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Furthermore, Ayahuasca has been popularised within the Newage scene and promoted as a cure for a multitude of diseases, establishing a tourism to alleged shamans, some of whom are also actively touring various Newage congresses and fairs to promote their services.

It must be pointed out that these persons do not happen to be genuine indigenous medicine persons and the vast majority are no member of any indigenous ethnic group. Therefore, they were never trained by indigenous medicine persons and often have a rather limited knowledge about the plants they administer or about the possible effects and cross-effects these may cause, nor do they have much of a knowledge of the indigenous ceremonies they imitate. It is even voiced within the Newage scene that the „shamans“ aiming at a European/US clientele use completely different songs than indigenous medicine persons do.<ref>http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

This already becomes apparent from the biographical information provided on websites promoting plastic shamans using Ayahuasca on their clients: one „shaman“ is introduced as a „fisher, sculptor, and researcher of the Moche culture“<ref name="tingan">http://www.tingan.info/unsere_projekte_files/indi-pro.htm accessed 11/02/2012</ref>, another one as a „musician, sculptor, and curandero (healer) in the tradition of several tribe of Amazonia“<ref name="tingan" />, with the mere mention of the traditions of several ethnic groups being a clear indicator the person is a plastic shaman. Still another vendor's father is said to have been abducted by „savages“ who raised him; the son is said to have inherited „the savageness“ and to have „survived live-or-death fights in the jungle and in the slums of Iquitos and Lima“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra">http://www.don-pedro-guerra.net abgerufen 02.11.2012</ref> The latter information presumably far more appropriately reflects the real biography. The websites promoting this „shaman“ are particularly characterised by a use of racist stereotypes on indigenous peoples and their alleged savageness and dangerousness<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> and e.g. claim the „shaman“ was „more of an Indian than a mestizo“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> The racism inherent in these claims apparently is not being noticed by site owners and clients, or probably taken for a proof of particular „authenticity“.

Another „shaman“ is US-based Erick Gonzalez who also administers further substances like Mescaline and Peyote to his clients. He is also active in Canada, where he is being promoted by [[Ngystle Society]] and also seems to cooperate with [[Psychology of Vision]]. Canadian RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) already in September 2013 issued a warning regarding Gonzalez' various activities.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Gonzalez claims to be a Maya shaman but his family migrated from Guatemala to California when he was only 11 years of age. The apprenticeship resp. shamanic initiation he claims must therefore rather be seen as a sales pitch; Gonzalez however claims to have been adopted by another plastic shaman by the name of Francisco Jimenez aka Tlakaelel who claimed to be a Toltec (the Toltec have not been around as an ethnic entity for some 800 years, i.e. since pre-Columbian times). Although Gonzalez claims to be Maya, it is assumed that he is of a very distant ancestry or has no ancestry at all.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3420.0 accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Furthermore, the substances employed by Gonzalez, although known by indigenous medicine persons, are not domestic in Guatemala, therefore his having had access to traditional knowledge and use in this respect is to be highly doubted.

===Claims of Healing of Disease by Ayahuasca===
While in an indigenous context, Ayahuasca is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, its use in the Newage scene undergoes a rededication to become a remedy consumed by the client which is quite congruent with the non-indigenous domestic use of these substances in the respective South American countries. Although part of the Newage scene does mention the use of substances by indigenous ethnic groups,<ref>see e. g. http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref> the completely different handling by Newage vendors does not get addressed.

Ayahuasca is thus promoted as a cure for a broad variety of diseases, including particularly serious conditions, by the Newage scene. Most often it is propagated as a cure for cancer<ref>e. g. http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref> and abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol), which means that a potent hallucinogenic drug is expected to cause detoxification.<ref>e. g. http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Other diseases mentioned are Parkinson's Syndrome,<ref name="jaii">http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> mental disorders,<ref name="jaii" /> and AIDS.<ref>http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A plastic shaman established in the German language market characterises Ayahuasca more or less as a cure-all: ''“With this ceremony, myriads of persons have been healed, even from serious diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, leucemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, depression etc.“''<ref name="indianerpfad">http://www.indianerpfad.de/seite74.html abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref> Another vendor claims: ''“In Peru, we specialise in the following diseases: anxieties, alcoholism, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, auto-immune diseases, high blood pressure, borreliosis, high cholesterine levels, fatigue, depression, diabetes, drug abuse, gastritis, inflammation of joints, abscesses, various skin diseases, heart diseases, hormone problems, dropsy, impotence, infections, inner pressure, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, menopause, migraine, kidney diseases, rheumatism, thyroid diseases, sterility, stress, problems of substance abuse, insomnia, tumours, tuberculosis.“''<ref>http://www.joven-murayari.de/krankheiten-heilpflanzen/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> Other vendors are more reluctant about naming precise diseases which, however, tends to make the claims sound even more ambitious: ''“Since Ayahuasca works on all levels, it is possible to heal rare and serious diseases which cannot be cured by conventional remedies.“''<ref>http://www.sankenowe.com/ayahuasca-de.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

„Sein“, a German-language Newage magazine, published an article promoting a Peruvian plastic shaman whose approach reminds of the views of antisemite [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] and his [[Germanic New Medicine]]: ''“Don Pedro specialises on psychosomatic medicine and also has clients diagnosed with cancer who reject conventional chemotherapy, trusting him instead. I did not witness resp could not check actual healing successes, but a woman from Austria told me her serious liver tumour, in the final stage, was treated in the jungle and was found not to be detectable any longer a year later. Don Pedro views disease foremost as the expression of psychological conflicts, thus his views is not much different from Western psychosomatic approaches“.''<ref>http://www.sein.de/archiv/2005/mai-2005/der-curandero-der-meisterpflanzen--heilung-durch-schamanismus.html accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Vendors and their Prices===
Many of the vendors are of Peruvian nationality and run so-called „retreats“ in their home country. In some cases, a relative is living in Europe, directing clientele towards the family enterprise via an occupation as an alleged shaman. Other vendors are Europeans organising travels to Peru<ref name="otorongo">http://www.otorongo.net/ abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref>; still others mention Ayahuasca ceremonies conducted in the Netherlands.<ref name="indianerpfad" /> Only a small number of vendors dare to openly publish on their websites they are doing Ayahuasca ceremonies.<ref name="schamanismus-tantra">http://www.schamanismus-tantra.at/ayahuasca.html accessed 11/06/2012</ref><ref>http://tatatonga.ch/zeremonialreisen/ecuador-panacocha/index.php accessed 11/06/2012; this website promotes „ceremonies“ taking place in Switzerland as well as travels to Ecuador</ref> With other vendors, it remains unclear whether ceremonies are taking place in German-language regions or in South America. Another strategy is the cover-up: the brew is not given its appropriate name but gets offered by the moniker „Ayaruna“, and respective seminars in Germany and Austria including the consumption of Ayahuasca by participants are being promoted in this way.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A good part of the mentioned retreats is situated in the northeast of Peru in the Iquitos region. Another centre of retreats seems to be the city of Cusco; however, Ayahuasca does not belong to the traditionally known cures in the Cusco region, so these vendors most probably are likewise uninformed plastic shamans. This becomes evident when one of these vendors offers an allegedly traditional medicine plant for internal cleansing which he spells „Laxitiwe“ in imitation of the spelling of Quechua language.<ref>http://schamanischeszentrumperu.yolasite.com/laxitiwe.php accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

Pricing assumes a high level. Stays in retreats are sold from two and three weeks upwards, but sojourns of one week or of one or several months are possible, too. The daily fees range between € 60 and € 170. With longer sojourns booked, daily prices decrease, with one vendor asking a daily fee of € 40 when the client books a four-months stay or longer. A usual trip of about three weeks results in „treatment costs“ between € 1,700 and € 2,700.<ref>see e. g. http://www.otorongo.net accessed 11/04/2012, http://www.schamanischreisen.de/36.html and http://www.joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> These prices, with the exception of but a few vendors, exclude costs of air travel from Europe/USA to Peru and from Lima to Iquitos; the prices cover accomodation, food, „treatment“, and the consumption of Ayahuasca and other so-called medicine plants.

Vendors marketing seminars in Europe sell events of a restricted duration. In one case, retreats of two, three, or five days are offered in Austria; the costs vary between € 490, € 690, and € 1,050 including accomodation and food (uncooked vegetarian or vegan).<ref name="schamanismus-tantra" /> The same vendor, in 2009, asked € 270 for the first Ayahuasca ritual, € 243 for the second, and € 216 for the third and following rituals, including accomodation and breakfast.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2372.0 accessed 06.11.2012</ref> Another vendor organises two-day seminars in Austria and Germany which include the consumption of Ayahuasca at a price of € 200 per participant, excluding accomodation, food, and rental cost of the so-called ceremonial centre.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/termine/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

A possibility to put these prices in perspective is offered on the site of Marburg University: ''“The price for about 500 ml of Ayahuasca is approximately 20 Nuevos Soles (app. € 4). Depending on the number of participants, the potency of the Ayahuasca brew, and personal habits of the shaman, such a bottle will last several sessions“''; this information refers to the usual market price in a domestic Peruvian, non-indigenous context.<ref name="uni-marburg">http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/vk/titelseiten/ayahuasca accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

===Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption===
In August 2012, a US tourist died after having taken the Ayahuasca brew. The case caused quite some commotion, since the plastic shaman attempted to cover up the death and dumped the body. The efforts of the deceased person's family resulted in the shaman eventually admitting to have disposed the body. In contradiction to claims made in advertisements for his premises, the „shaman“ did not closely monitor the client after the consumption of Ayahuasca, but had left him alone in a hut; when the man was found the next morning, he had been dead for some time already. The tourist had paid the amount of US$ 1,200 to consume Ayahuasca.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202459/Kyle-Joseph-Nolan-death-Peruvian-shaman-confesses-buried-body-U-S-teen-spiritual-retreat.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Shortly afterwards, there were accounts on websites claiming that it was a regular practice for this shaman to leave clients alone during trips, since the shaman claimed to be able to telepathically monitor clients while watching TV. Further absurd claims made by this shaman were also published, so e.g. he claimed to be a descendant of Marsians who settled the continents of Atlantis and Lemuria. Other reports said the shaman did not prepare the Ayahuasca brew himself but bought it in the local market, so that he did not know its exact consistency and potency.<ref>http://www.rpp.com.pe/2012-09-11-madre-de-dios-curandero-confeso-que-enterro-a-joven-norteamericano-noticia_520815.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Two more fatalities occured in 2015, apparently not due to the consumption of Ayahuasca, but of a so-called "tobacco tea" served in preparation for the Ayahuasca brew.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref><ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref> Matthew Dawson-Clarke, aged 24, was served tobacco tea at the Kapitari Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru, and died of cardiac arrest. According to newspaper reports, he had consumed the tea in the morning and remained ill all day, with cardiac arrest occuring at 6.30 p.m. Only when first aid measures did not provide any result, Dawson-Clarke eventually was taken to an Iquitos hospital but proclaimed dead there.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref>

Canadian citizen Jennifer Logan, 32, likewise took ill after consuming tobacco tea "in a ceremony with a shaman". Logan, too, had to be transported to a hospital by boat and motorcycle but was beyond help upon arrival. An autopsy established Logan died of pulmonary edema. She had booked a fortnight's retreat at Canto Luz Centre outside Puerto Maldonado.<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref>

Canto Luz is a retreat operated by a white European with a Peruvian person functioning as a "shaman". Canto Luz is owned by one Mariya Garnet, a Russian who migrated to Canada in 2000 and claims to have taken up "healing shamanism" already in Siberia. The retreat's shaman Reyna Luz Edery Flores is described as ''"the main mestizo ayahuascquera"''[sic}. Since the term "mestizo" is applied to characterise Edery Flores, she does not seem to have any tribal affiliation.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!team/c13md</ref> Canto Luz offers retreats for seven and 14 days at prices of USD 950 resp. USD 1,850.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!retreats-overview/c1i7j</ref> They publish several videos on YouTube to attract customers and seem a rather recently addition on the market, as a fundraising appeal set up in order to provide Garnet with finances to buy the premises was published in early 2013, with the additional information the retreat was going to open April 1, 2013. The fundraising campaign had a goal of USD 20,000 and managed to raise USD 31,665 from 133 persons in about one month.<ref>https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/call-to-action-join-us-in-preserving-traditional-wisdom-pristine-amazon#/story</ref>

Kapitari Center, where the other fatality occured, claims to be run by a Peruvian shaman by the name of Luis Culquiton aka Don Lucho, and there is no information whether these premises are owned by Culquiton or whether he, too, serves as a front man. Culquiton, quite in line with usual advertisement, gets portrayed as coming "from a long line of natural healers", still the website claims "he discovered the healing qualities of plants himself, at a very early age", "an established, self-educated shaman"<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ </ref>, and "he never underwent a formal apprenticeship under another shaman".<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/about-don-lucho/</ref> Instead of being seen as positive, these phrases should be taken as a severe warning by clients that booking may mean their participation in a large experiment of "trial and error".

Kapitari, too, offers seven and 14 day retreats, with a seven-day retreat amounting to USD 650 and including four Ayahuasca trips and a "purge with tobacco juice". The site further advises: ''"The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and involves a 45 minute walk so you must be able bodied."''<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/</ref> The death of one Kapitari client reveals plainly that this distance is a further danger to clients in case medical help is needed.

Another interesting aspect is the information the Kapitari website provides regarding where cash receipts will end up:
:''"Of the $650 that you pay us:
''$300 goes to Kapitari and Don Lucho. A portion of which pays for the running of Kapitari and anything left over is spent on Don Lucho’s permaculture and community projects.
''$300 is split between the retreat facilitators & Outer Travels Inner Journeys.
''$50 is given as an additional bonus to the Peruvian staff at Kapitari who work hard all week to look after the guests."<ref>http://www.kapitari.org/ayahuasca-ceremonies/authentic-ayahuasca-retreat-in-iquitos-peru/ </ref>
The largest part of receipts are split between the "shaman", the "retreat facilitators" and the travel agency, and the description of "retreat facilitators" is ambiguous and does not necessarily mean the retreat staff. If this was the case, a far more plain way for website maintainers were to say: USD 200 go to the Peruvian staff and USD 150 to Outer Travels.

==Consequences for the Indigenous Population==
The indigenous population often oppose the abuse of plants they use, as well as their being commercialised, and taking the plants out of their traditional context. Furthermore, a reckless exploitation of indigenous medicinal plants is taking place, by persons also exploiting indigenous ceremonies and cultures in order to sell them to tourists. Another aspect criticised is the approach of entitlement held by Newage-affine tourists who mean to buy access to experience and medicine.

Some websites promoting travels to South American plastic shamans explicitly describe that only a small part of the population, if any, will profit from the sale of ceremonies. Since the Newage tourists will do an Ayahuasca trip every other day, resulting in a recreation period during the following day, the domestic economy is left out of this form of tourism. Additionally, the retreats are situated in remote regions, and travelers are dependant on the means of transport provided by retreat operators.

Another important aspect is that apparently a fair number of retreats are not in domestic ownership, but are operated with a local plastic shaman employed as a front man by the European or US owner of the premises. This means that, same as with multi-national tourist business, the respective domestic economies do in no way benefit from profits obtained from these activities. Only few websites make this as apparent as the one maintained by an Austrian psychologist who is also mentioned in the site's imprint.<ref name="otorongo" /> Since the psychologist describes himself as a resident of Austrian St. Valentin but also claims to be a resident of Peru, it is not clear whether he will be on the premises during the sojourns sold to tourists. More quite interesting reading material is provided with the exemption clauses mentioned on his website. Furthermore, the above mentioned retreat where a US tourist died after consuming Ayahuasca is also said not to be in the ownership of the local plastic shaman but is owned by a US citizen.<ref>http://latina-press.com/news/134978-nach-tod-von-us-buerger-bekaempfung-der-scharlatanerie-in-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedicine]]
[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Ayahuasca

2015-09-25T16:52:45Z

Halbmond: /* Fatality following Ayahuasca consumption */

The concoction used and named „Ayahuasca“ in the Newage scene is a tea prepared from the South American Ayahuasca liana to which other plants of various pharmaceutical effects will be added. Mostly, this will be the so-called Chacruna, botanical name Psychotria viridis.<ref> http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_viridis accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Due to the diverse range of possible mixtures, a broad variety of effects on the human organism is achieved. Ayahuasca is a drug used traditionally by several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, where its use is restricted to medicine persons employing it to diagnose the cause of an illness in a patient.

==Use of Ayahuasca beyond an indigenous Context==
Since several decades, Ayahuasca is being used by recent religious movements in Brazil who meanwhile founded branches in Europe and in the USA. Additionally, more and more trips to predominantly Peruvian Plastic Shamans are offered in the USA and Europe. One decisive difference of the use of Ayahuasca outside of an indigenous context is who consumes the drug: while in indigenous ethnic groups, use is restricted to medicine persons, in new religious movements as well as in Newage circles, the drug will be consumed by believers resp. by the paying clients. Contrary to indigenous use, the retreats offered in a Newage context will have clients take Ayahuasca as often as every other day.

===Brazil===
There are several recent religious movements in Brazil which employ Ayahuasca as a sacrament. The eldest of these churches is Santo Daime which was founded in the 1930ies by Raimundo Irineu Serre who blended information obtained from a Peruvian Ayahuascero with components of the Christian faith, combined with his own revelations.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Likewise, União do Vegetal (UDV) blends Ayahuasca with Christian topics. UDV came into being during the 1960ies but claims roots from the 10th century B.P.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniao_do_Vegetal accessed 11/02/2012</ref> This church was founded by José Gabriel da Costa.

Barquinha is a split-off from Santo Daime and was founded in 1945.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barquinha accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Europe and USA===
Meanwhile, these Ayahuasca churches have established branches in Europe and in the USA, although in most countries, at least one of the substances used in Ayahuasca is illegal under the respective Dangerous Drugs Laws. On the other hand, more recent court verdicts in several countries have ruled that religious use of Ayahuasca (due to legal loopholes) was permitted. <ref>e. g. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Daime accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

Furthermore, Ayahuasca has been popularised within the Newage scene and promoted as a cure for a multitude of diseases, establishing a tourism to alleged shamans, some of whom are also actively touring various Newage congresses and fairs to promote their services.

It must be pointed out that these persons do not happen to be genuine indigenous medicine persons and the vast majority are no member of any indigenous ethnic group. Therefore, they were never trained by indigenous medicine persons and often have a rather limited knowledge about the plants they administer or about the possible effects and cross-effects these may cause, nor do they have much of a knowledge of the indigenous ceremonies they imitate. It is even voiced within the Newage scene that the „shamans“ aiming at a European/US clientele use completely different songs than indigenous medicine persons do.<ref>http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

This already becomes apparent from the biographical information provided on websites promoting plastic shamans using Ayahuasca on their clients: one „shaman“ is introduced as a „fisher, sculptor, and researcher of the Moche culture“<ref name="tingan">http://www.tingan.info/unsere_projekte_files/indi-pro.htm accessed 11/02/2012</ref>, another one as a „musician, sculptor, and curandero (healer) in the tradition of several tribe of Amazonia“<ref name="tingan" />, with the mere mention of the traditions of several ethnic groups being a clear indicator the person is a plastic shaman. Still another vendor's father is said to have been abducted by „savages“ who raised him; the son is said to have inherited „the savageness“ and to have „survived live-or-death fights in the jungle and in the slums of Iquitos and Lima“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra">http://www.don-pedro-guerra.net abgerufen 02.11.2012</ref> The latter information presumably far more appropriately reflects the real biography. The websites promoting this „shaman“ are particularly characterised by a use of racist stereotypes on indigenous peoples and their alleged savageness and dangerousness<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> and e.g. claim the „shaman“ was „more of an Indian than a mestizo“.<ref name="don-pedro-guerra" /> The racism inherent in these claims apparently is not being noticed by site owners and clients, or probably taken for a proof of particular „authenticity“.

Another „shaman“ is US-based Erick Gonzalez who also administers further substances like Mescaline and Peyote to his clients. He is also active in Canada, where he is being promoted by [[Ngystle Society]] and also seems to cooperate with [[Psychology of Vision]]. Canadian RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) already in September 2013 issued a warning regarding Gonzalez' various activities.<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Gonzalez claims to be a Maya shaman but his family migrated from Guatemala to California when he was only 11 years of age. The apprenticeship resp. shamanic initiation he claims must therefore rather be seen as a sales pitch; Gonzalez however claims to have been adopted by another plastic shaman by the name of Francisco Jimenez aka Tlakaelel who claimed to be a Toltec (the Toltec have not been around as an ethnic entity for some 800 years, i.e. since pre-Columbian times). Although Gonzalez claims to be Maya, it is assumed that he is of a very distant ancestry or has no ancestry at all.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3420.0 accessed 03/20/2014</ref> Furthermore, the substances employed by Gonzalez, although known by indigenous medicine persons, are not domestic in Guatemala, therefore his having had access to traditional knowledge and use in this respect is to be highly doubted.

===Claims of Healing of Disease by Ayahuasca===
While in an indigenous context, Ayahuasca is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, its use in the Newage scene undergoes a rededication to become a remedy consumed by the client which is quite congruent with the non-indigenous domestic use of these substances in the respective South American countries. Although part of the Newage scene does mention the use of substances by indigenous ethnic groups,<ref>see e. g. http://www.christian-raetsch.de/Artikel/Artikel/Ayahuasca.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref> the completely different handling by Newage vendors does not get addressed.

Ayahuasca is thus promoted as a cure for a broad variety of diseases, including particularly serious conditions, by the Newage scene. Most often it is propagated as a cure for cancer<ref>e. g. http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref> and abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol), which means that a potent hallucinogenic drug is expected to cause detoxification.<ref>e. g. http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> Other diseases mentioned are Parkinson's Syndrome,<ref name="jaii">http://www.jaii.de/index.php?view=details&id=845%3Aayahuasca-rituale-in-wienoesterreich&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=98 accessed 11/02/2012</ref> mental disorders,<ref name="jaii" /> and AIDS.<ref>http://www.lonewolfadventure.net/LWA/?p=1137&language=de accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A plastic shaman established in the German language market characterises Ayahuasca more or less as a cure-all: ''“With this ceremony, myriads of persons have been healed, even from serious diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, leucemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, depression etc.“''<ref name="indianerpfad">http://www.indianerpfad.de/seite74.html abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref> Another vendor claims: ''“In Peru, we specialise in the following diseases: anxieties, alcoholism, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, auto-immune diseases, high blood pressure, borreliosis, high cholesterine levels, fatigue, depression, diabetes, drug abuse, gastritis, inflammation of joints, abscesses, various skin diseases, heart diseases, hormone problems, dropsy, impotence, infections, inner pressure, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, menopause, migraine, kidney diseases, rheumatism, thyroid diseases, sterility, stress, problems of substance abuse, insomnia, tumours, tuberculosis.“''<ref>http://www.joven-murayari.de/krankheiten-heilpflanzen/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> Other vendors are more reluctant about naming precise diseases which, however, tends to make the claims sound even more ambitious: ''“Since Ayahuasca works on all levels, it is possible to heal rare and serious diseases which cannot be cured by conventional remedies.“''<ref>http://www.sankenowe.com/ayahuasca-de.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

„Sein“, a German-language Newage magazine, published an article promoting a Peruvian plastic shaman whose approach reminds of the views of antisemite [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] and his [[Germanic New Medicine]]: ''“Don Pedro specialises on psychosomatic medicine and also has clients diagnosed with cancer who reject conventional chemotherapy, trusting him instead. I did not witness resp could not check actual healing successes, but a woman from Austria told me her serious liver tumour, in the final stage, was treated in the jungle and was found not to be detectable any longer a year later. Don Pedro views disease foremost as the expression of psychological conflicts, thus his views is not much different from Western psychosomatic approaches“.''<ref>http://www.sein.de/archiv/2005/mai-2005/der-curandero-der-meisterpflanzen--heilung-durch-schamanismus.html accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

===Vendors and their Prices===
Many of the vendors are of Peruvian nationality and run so-called „retreats“ in their home country. In some cases, a relative is living in Europe, directing clientele towards the family enterprise via an occupation as an alleged shaman. Other vendors are Europeans organising travels to Peru<ref name="otorongo">http://www.otorongo.net/ abgerufen 04.11.2012</ref>; still others mention Ayahuasca ceremonies conducted in the Netherlands.<ref name="indianerpfad" /> Only a small number of vendors dare to openly publish on their websites they are doing Ayahuasca ceremonies.<ref name="schamanismus-tantra">http://www.schamanismus-tantra.at/ayahuasca.html accessed 11/06/2012</ref><ref>http://tatatonga.ch/zeremonialreisen/ecuador-panacocha/index.php accessed 11/06/2012; this website promotes „ceremonies“ taking place in Switzerland as well as travels to Ecuador</ref> With other vendors, it remains unclear whether ceremonies are taking place in German-language regions or in South America. Another strategy is the cover-up: the brew is not given its appropriate name but gets offered by the moniker „Ayaruna“, and respective seminars in Germany and Austria including the consumption of Ayahuasca by participants are being promoted in this way.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/02/2012</ref>

A good part of the mentioned retreats is situated in the northeast of Peru in the Iquitos region. Another centre of retreats seems to be the city of Cusco; however, Ayahuasca does not belong to the traditionally known cures in the Cusco region, so these vendors most probably are likewise uninformed plastic shamans. This becomes evident when one of these vendors offers an allegedly traditional medicine plant for internal cleansing which he spells „Laxitiwe“ in imitation of the spelling of Quechua language.<ref>http://schamanischeszentrumperu.yolasite.com/laxitiwe.php accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

Pricing assumes a high level. Stays in retreats are sold from two and three weeks upwards, but sojourns of one week or of one or several months are possible, too. The daily fees range between € 60 and € 170. With longer sojourns booked, daily prices decrease, with one vendor asking a daily fee of € 40 when the client books a four-months stay or longer. A usual trip of about three weeks results in „treatment costs“ between € 1,700 and € 2,700.<ref>see e. g. http://www.otorongo.net accessed 11/04/2012, http://www.schamanischreisen.de/36.html and http://www.joven-murayari.de/reisen-nach-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref> These prices, with the exception of but a few vendors, exclude costs of air travel from Europe/USA to Peru and from Lima to Iquitos; the prices cover accomodation, food, „treatment“, and the consumption of Ayahuasca and other so-called medicine plants.

Vendors marketing seminars in Europe sell events of a restricted duration. In one case, retreats of two, three, or five days are offered in Austria; the costs vary between € 490, € 690, and € 1,050 including accomodation and food (uncooked vegetarian or vegan).<ref name="schamanismus-tantra" /> The same vendor, in 2009, asked € 270 for the first Ayahuasca ritual, € 243 for the second, and € 216 for the third and following rituals, including accomodation and breakfast.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2372.0 accessed 06.11.2012</ref> Another vendor organises two-day seminars in Austria and Germany which include the consumption of Ayahuasca at a price of € 200 per participant, excluding accomodation, food, and rental cost of the so-called ceremonial centre.<ref>http://joven-murayari.de/termine/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

A possibility to put these prices in perspective is offered on the site of Marburg University: ''“The price for about 500 ml of Ayahuasca is approximately 20 Nuevos Soles (app. € 4). Depending on the number of participants, the potency of the Ayahuasca brew, and personal habits of the shaman, such a bottle will last several sessions“''; this information refers to the usual market price in a domestic Peruvian, non-indigenous context.<ref name="uni-marburg">http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/vk/titelseiten/ayahuasca accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

===Fatalities in Retreats resp. following Ayahuasca consumption===
In August 2012, a US tourist died after having taken the Ayahuasca brew. The case caused quite some commotion, since the plastic shaman attempted to cover up the death and dumped the body. The efforts of the deceased person's family resulted in the shaman eventually admitting to have disposed the body. In contradiction to claims made in advertisements for his premises, the „shaman“ did not closely monitor the client after the consumption of Ayahuasca, but had left him alone in a hut; when the man was found the next morning, he had been dead for some time already. The tourist had paid the amount of US$ 1,200 to consume Ayahuasca.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202459/Kyle-Joseph-Nolan-death-Peruvian-shaman-confesses-buried-body-U-S-teen-spiritual-retreat.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Shortly afterwards, there were accounts on websites claiming that it was a regular practice for this shaman to leave clients alone during trips, since the shaman claimed to be able to telepathically monitor clients while watching TV. Further absurd claims made by this shaman were also published, so e.g. he claimed to be a descendant of Marsians who settled the continents of Atlantis and Lemuria. Other reports said the shaman did not prepare the Ayahuasca brew himself but bought it in the local market, so that he did not know its exact consistency and potency.<ref>http://www.rpp.com.pe/2012-09-11-madre-de-dios-curandero-confeso-que-enterro-a-joven-norteamericano-noticia_520815.html accessed 11/04/2012</ref>

Two more fatalities occured in 2015, apparently not due to the consumption of Ayahuasca, but of a so-called "tobacco tea" served in preparation for the Ayahuasca brew.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref><ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref> Matthew Dawson-Clarke, aged 24, was served tobacco tea at the Kapitari Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru, and died of cardiac arrest. According to newspaper reports, he had consumed the tea in the morning and remained ill all day, with cardiac arrest occuring at 6.30 p.m. Only when first aid measures did not provide any result, Dawson-Clarke eventually was taken to an Iquitos hospital but proclaimed dead there.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71864946/kiwi-matthew-dawsonclarke-dies-in-peru-after-tobacco-purge</ref>

Canadian citizen Jennifer Logan, 32, likewise took ill after consuming tobacco tea "in a ceremony with a shaman". Logan, too, had to be transported to a hospital by boat and motorcycle but was beyond help upon arrival. An autopsy established Logan died of pulmonary edema. She had booked a fortnight's retreat at Canto Luz Centre outside Puerto Maldonado.<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jennifer-logan-dies-after-drinking-tobacco-purge-tea-in-peru-1.2945727</ref>

Canto Luz is a retreat operated by a white European with a Peruvian person functioning as a "shaman". Canto Luz is owned by one Mariya Garnet, a Russian who migrated to Canada in 2000 and claims to have taken up "healing shamanism" already in Siberia. The retreat's shaman Reyna Luz Edery Flores is described as ''"the main mestizo ayahuascquera"''[sic}. Since the term "mestizo" is applied to characterise Edery Flores, she does not seem to have any tribal affiliation.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!team/c13md</ref> Canto Luz offers retreats for seven and 14 days at prices of USD 950 resp. USD 1,850.<ref>http://www.cantoluz.com/#!retreats-overview/c1i7j</ref> They publish several videos on YouTube to attract customers and seem a rather recently addition on the market, as a fundraising appeal set up in order to provide Garnet with finances to buy the premises was published in early 2013, with the additional information the retreat was going to open April 1, 2013. The fundraising campaign had a goal of USD 20,000 and managed to raise USD 31,665 from 133 persons in about one month.<ref>https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/call-to-action-join-us-in-preserving-traditional-wisdom-pristine-amazon#/story</ref>

==Consequences for the Indigenous Population==
The indigenous population often oppose the abuse of plants they use, as well as their being commercialised, and taking the plants out of their traditional context. Furthermore, a reckless exploitation of indigenous medicinal plants is taking place, by persons also exploiting indigenous ceremonies and cultures in order to sell them to tourists. Another aspect criticised is the approach of entitlement held by Newage-affine tourists who mean to buy access to experience and medicine.

Some websites promoting travels to South American plastic shamans explicitly describe that only a small part of the population, if any, will profit from the sale of ceremonies. Since the Newage tourists will do an Ayahuasca trip every other day, resulting in a recreation period during the following day, the domestic economy is left out of this form of tourism. Additionally, the retreats are situated in remote regions, and travelers are dependant on the means of transport provided by retreat operators.

Another important aspect is that apparently a fair number of retreats are not in domestic ownership, but are operated with a local plastic shaman employed as a front man by the European or US owner of the premises. This means that, same as with multi-national tourist business, the respective domestic economies do in no way benefit from profits obtained from these activities. Only few websites make this as apparent as the one maintained by an Austrian psychologist who is also mentioned in the site's imprint.<ref name="otorongo" /> Since the psychologist describes himself as a resident of Austrian St. Valentin but also claims to be a resident of Peru, it is not clear whether he will be on the premises during the sojourns sold to tourists. More quite interesting reading material is provided with the exemption clauses mentioned on his website. Furthermore, the above mentioned retreat where a US tourist died after consuming Ayahuasca is also said not to be in the ownership of the local plastic shaman but is owned by a US citizen.<ref>http://latina-press.com/news/134978-nach-tod-von-us-buerger-bekaempfung-der-scharlatanerie-in-peru/ accessed 11/06/2012</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedicine]]
[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:54:13Z

Halbmond: /* Criticism and Shortcomings */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most major cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting European media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

US TV-''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] employed such ideas in a TV interview in 2015, when he contended there were no-go-areas in European cities which christian citizens are best advised not to enter, and that he allegedly had not been able, despite being accompanied by police officers, to do TV coverage in what he described as a completely Muslim quarter of the British town of Birmingham.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littman alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littman choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:48:29Z

Halbmond: /* Reception */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most major cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting European media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

US TV-''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] employed such ideas in a TV interview in 2015, when he contended there were no-go-areas in European cities which christian citizens are best advised not to enter, and that he allegedly had not been able, despite being accompanied by police officers, to do TV coverage in what he described as a completely Muslim quarter of the British town of Birmingham.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littmann alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littmann choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:47:35Z

Halbmond: /* Reception */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most major cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting European media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

US TV-''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] employed such ideas in a TV interview in 2015, when he contended there were no-go-areas in European cities which christian citizens are best advised not to enter, and that he allegedly had not been able, despite being accompanied by police officers, to do TV coverage in what he described as a completely Muslim quarter of the British town of Birmingham.

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littmann alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littmann choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:46:56Z

Halbmond: /* Reception */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most major cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting European media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

US TV-''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] employed such ideas in a TV interview in 2015, when he contended there were no-go-areas in European cities which christian citizens are best advised not to enter, and that he allegedly had not been able, despite being accompanied by police officers, to do TV coverage in what he dsecribed as a completely Muslim quarter of the British town of Birmingham.

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littmann alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littmann choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:41:58Z

Halbmond: /* The hypothesis */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most major cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting European media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

The ''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] played with such ideas in a TV interview in 2015.

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littmann alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littmann choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:37:43Z

Halbmond: /* The hypothesis */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most major cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting Eurpean media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians<ref name="loonwatch.com" />. Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

The ''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] played with such ideas in a TV interview in 2015.

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littmann alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littmann choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Eurabia

2015-09-04T18:35:51Z

Halbmond: /* The hypothesis */

The term '''Eurabia''' characterises a hypothetical construct promoted by conspiracy theorists which alleges a subtle Islamisation and Arabisation of the European continent planned and facilitated by both European and Arab political elites since the early 1970ies. This theory narrows Islam to the Arab states, sometimes even further to those Arab countries neighbouring the Mediterranean, and ignores e.g. European or Asian Muslims. It also perceives a monolithic Islamic world and ignores resp. denies existing religious, social, and political disparities and conflicts between countries of Islamic heritage. In a similar way, the hypothesis choses to ignore existing divergencies in interest and politics between European states.
The hypothesis is received positively largely by the extremist and populist political Right in Europe and in the USA.

==Origin of the Term==
In general, coinage of the term is ascribed to the author Bat Ye'or whose real-life name is Gisèle Littman who also uses the nom-de-plume "Yahudiya Masriya" (Arab.: "Egyptian Jewess").

Littman was born Gisèle Orebie in Cairo in 1939. Following the Suez Crisis, the family went to London in 1958; some sources say the family had been expelled from Egypt and thus lost their Egyptian citizenship, while others state the family left Egypt and held a status as stateless refugees in London. Littman initially began a course of studies in archaeology in London and got married in 1959; the family moving to Switzerland in 1960 where she is said to have held employment with the University of Geneva. Apparently, Littman never finished a course of studies and never held an academic position. Through her marriage with British historian David Littman, she holds British citizenship.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or</ref><ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%CA%BEor</ref>

Littman is no scholar and euphemistically gets referred to as an "independent researcher".<ref name="loonwatch.com">http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/anti-muslim-loon-with-a-crazy-conspiracy-theory-named-eurabia/</ref>

==The hypothesis==
In various publications, Littman claims the alleged influence of Islam, antiamericanism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism over European culture and politics was a product of a collaboration between radical Arabs and Muslims on one hand with fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers of Europe on the other hand. Her "Eurabia" scenario, however, she attributes to an ''"alliance between ... the nine countries of the European Community (EC) which, enlarged, became the European Union (EU) in 1992 and on the other hand, the Mediterranean Arab countries"''.<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />

Respective alliances and agreements, Littman claims, were elaborated at top political levels of EU countries and the countries organised in the Arab League, with the system being synchronized by the association of Euro-Arab Dialogue (EAD) founded in Paris in 1974<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" />, and originating from the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent dialogues between European Economic Community and Arab League. Littman views this as a primary cause of an alleged European hostility towards Israel and perceives Euro-Arab foreign policies as anti-American and anti-Zionist.<ref name="en WP Eurabia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref>

She views France and Arab countries as the leaders of the conspiracy which does not only aim at Islamising and Arabising Europe, but at the same time weaken its existing culture and its alignment with USA and Israel. The role of European countries is characterised as ''"dhimmitude"'' by Littman<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, i.e. European countries allegedly accepting the role of a mere vassal or even serf.

Muslim imigration is seen as another cornerstone of Islamisation within this hypothesis, as this allegedly introduced a ''"process which then allowed Muslims to establish power bases for 'jihad' in most majore cities"''. Promoters of the hypothesis also often claim that, due to alleged exorbitant rates of reproduction of Muslim imigrants, they will make 25% of the European population by 2025, and Europe will soon be faced with a majority of its inhabitants being Muslim. At the same time, due to this hypothesis, a preemptive control on minds and thought was initiated, converting Eurpean media, universities, and schools into channels for Arab propaganda which then purportedly saw to it that Islamic contributions to European civilisation were exalted, while the European Judeo-Christian heritage was negated. At the same time, dissenting opinions were allegedly purged from European academia and media.<ref name="de.scribd.com">http://de.scribd.com/doc/3226637/EurabiaS</ref>

These efforts, according to Littman, were flanked by the creation of an allegedly non-existant Palestinian people who were no more than a propaganda fiction. In Littman's view, and that of other authors supporting the Eurabia hypothesis, all this instilled in Europeans a hatred for their own values and the wish to destroy their origins, reducing Europe to a sinking continent.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> The hypothesis also claims that European universities were being controlled by Palestinians<ref name="loonwatch.com" />. Apparently, when it comes to an alleged and unlawful control, the Palestinians' purported non-existence does not matter any longer. Littman also contends European churches were colluding with Muslims and were reading the bible "with a Koranic understanding", thus European Christians were "more inclined to follow the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Supporters of the hypothesis also claim the creation of so-called 'Islamic zones' in European countries resp. towns, in which the authority of police and secular state had been substituted with that of the Imam and the Mosque. These alleged zones are then taken for evidence of a capitulation to Islamic terrorists and a betrayal of the European population by their politicians.<ref name="de.scribd.com" /> Although the hypothesis accepts just Arab countries as participating in the conspiracy, when it comes to the alleged existence of 'Islamic zones', proponents feel free to include Muslim migrants originating from other regions, too, while vastly exaggerating the actual numbers of Muslim populations in an attempt to [[Steven Emerson|support their argumentation]].

==Reception==
The reception this hypothesis met was rather diverse: while generally refused in academia with a few exceptions, it has been taken up by various groupings of the political right, populist movements and parties, Islamophobic tendencies, up to the extremist right.

Correspondingly, honourable scholars have criticised the hypothesis in various, but fundamental ways. Prof. Robert Wistrich, head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, said: ''"Up until the 1980s, she [Littman] was not accepted at all. In academic circles they scorned her publications… A real change toward her emerged in the 1990s, and especially in recent years."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

American historian Prof. Robert Brenton Betts who worked for the Library of Congress and the Department of State criticises:
''"The general tone of the book is strident and anti-Muslim. This is coupled with selective scholarship designed to pick out the worst examples of anti-Christian behavior by Muslim governments, usually in time of war and threats to their own destruction (as in the case of the deplorable Armenian genocide of 1915). Add to this the attempt to demonize the so-called Islamic threat to Western civilization and the end-product is generally unedifying and frequently irritating."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago writes:
''"By obscuring the existence of pre-Christian and other old, non-Christian communities in Europe as well as the reason for their disappearance in other areas of Europe [due to Christian persecution], Bat Ye’or constructs an invidious comparison between the allegedly humane Europe of Christian and Enlightenment values and the ever present persecution within Islam. Whenever the possibility is raised of actually comparing circumstances of non-Christians in Europe to non-Muslims under Islamic governance in a careful, thoughtful manner, Bat Ye’or forecloses such comparison."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />

The ''pundit'' [[Steven Emerson]] played with such ideas in a TV interview in 2015.

===Reception in the European political Right===
The Eurabia hypothesis, on the other hand, has experienced a favourable reception in populist to far right environments in Europe who employ it for fear-mongering.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, head of Partij voor de Vrijheid [Party for Freedom], sent a message from his twitter account reading:
:''"Donner van Christenen Dienen Allah (CDA) zit er faliekant naast. ISIS = islam dus anti-shariaverklaring noodzakelijk!"'' [Donner from Christians Serving Allah (CDA) sits there in misery. ISIS = islam therefore anti-Sharia statement necessary!]<ref>https://twitter.com/geertwilderspvv/status/520907162017861633 </ref>
In another incident, Wilders claimed:
:''"This government is enthusiastically co-operating with the Islamization of the Netherlands. In all of Europe the elite opens the floodgates wide. In only a little while, one in five people in the European Union will be Muslim. Good news for this multiculti-government that views bowing to the horrors of Allah as its most important task. Good news for the CDA : C-D-A, in the meanwhile stands for Christians Serve Allah (Christenen Dienen Allah)."'<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />

Wilders deliberately distorts the name of the Dutch Christian Democrats (Christen Democratisch Appèl), alleging their participation in a conspiracy to have not only the Netherlands, but all Europe subdued by Islam.

Andreas Mölzer<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>, a long-standing member of Austrian Freedom Party and belonging to its "pan-German" wing, published a book titled: ''Eurabia. The nightmare of Europe's Islamisation''. Mölzer served in the European Parliament for two election periods. He withdrew from running for another period in 2014 in reaction to media reports on statements in which he had described the EU as far worse than National Socialist Germany which, according to his view, was relatively ''"informal and liberal"'', since it knew less ''"regulations, prescriptions, commands, and proscriptions"''. Mölzer initially strictly denied another statement claiming EU was a ''"conglomerate of negroes"'', until confronted with audio material confirming this phrase.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_M%C3%B6lzer </ref>

Italian author Oriana Fallaci after 9/11 published three books with Islamophobic views in which she e.g. claimed that ''"the sons of Allah breed like rats"''<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref> and that Europe had become "Eurabia". Fallaci also contended that Europe suffered a demographic infiltration by Muslims and that Islam, as was allegedly proved by 9/11, not only engaged in open, but also in covert warfare.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de">http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de/index.php/jfp/article/view/263/302</ref> Fallaci had also defended holocaust deniers like Robert Faurisson stating it was no problem to give an alternative view of history, and similarly defended the views of Brigitte Bardot who received several court sentences for instigating racial hatred.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci </ref>

Reception in the far right was enthusiastic. Neonazi platform Altermedia UK published an article titled ''"Eurabia - the nightmare has begun"'', also claiming the existence of so-called 'Islamic zones' in various European countries, in which the authority of police and secular state allegedly had been replaced by ''"the Imam and Mosque"'', and that European politicians betrayed their populations in the name of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism".<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Norwegian blogger Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen<ref name="en WP Eurabia" />, going by the alias of "The Fjordman", spoke of a renewed Jihad against Christendom after it had been brought to a close at Vienna in 1683 and compared the upcoming demise of Europe to a second fall of Rome.<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

The Fjordman blog later became a source for the 1.500-pages manifesto ''"2083: A European Declaration of Independence"'' authored by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator in the 2011 Norway attacks, who copied and pasted long parts of Fjordman Jensen's articles, as well as of articles authored by Bat Ye'or.<ref name="en WP Eurabia" /> The term "Eurabia" is said to appear more than onehundred times in Breivik's manifesto.<ref name="http://www.journal-fuer-psychologie.de" />

Belgian separatist party ''Vlaams Belang'' [Flemish Interest], founded in 2004 as a successor of "Vlaams Blok" and often viewed as populist and even far right, also use the label of "Eurabia" in their propaganda, warning of an imminent Islamisation of Europe.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaams_Belang</ref>

In the German-language regions in Europe, the "Eurabia" hypothesis has been taken up by a broad range of political parties, groups, individuals, internet projects, media etc., covering an area from so-called populists to the far right and including Third Positionists aiming at syncretising political left and right ideologies.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position </ref> Among these are Politically Incorrect<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_Incorrect_%28blog%29 </ref>, the sites of two PI authors (Michael Mannheimer<ref>http://michael-mannheimer.net </ref> and Gudrun Eussner<ref>http://eussner.blogspot.com</ref>), krisenfrei.de whose author Dieter Sordon is a Libertarian and member of "Partei der Vernunft" [Party of Reason]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Reason </ref>, Gloria.TV which is a multi-language clerical fascist internet TV station, Pro-Deutschland-Online.de which is maintained by Nazi multi-functionary Manfred Rouhs<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Germany_Citizens%27_Movement</ref>, the 'Honigmann' blog maintained by Ernst Köwing, a racist conspiracy theorist who was sentenced for incitement of popular hatred, or populist site paxeuropa.de.

The concept is also being promoted by newspaper "Junge Freiheit" [Young Freedom] which is part of the New Right<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Rechte </ref> and by publishing house Kopp Verlag covering the segments of far right esotericism, pseudo-science, and conspiracy theories.

Recently emerged movement 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegida </ref> similarly insinuate Europe's Islamisation by being overflooded with Muslim migrants; the movement being particularly successful in the German federal state of Saxony where it drew the largest number of participants in its protest marches, despite only 0.2% of the state's population being Muslim. A similar stance was taken by the Islamophobic movement "Hogesa" [Hooligans against Salafists].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogesa </ref>

Further alliances include fundamentalist Christians in the Catholic and Lutheran churches who share Islamophobic points of view. Articles in New Right and Third position newspapers like "Junge Freiheit", magazine "eigentümlich frei" or blog "Politically Incorrect" are being promoted by fundamentalist media of both denominations, and New Right media also canvass for fundamentalist Christian readers and authors.<ref>DER SPIEGEL No. 9, February 21, 2015. "Fromme Radikale" [Pious Radcials], p. 38</ref>

===Criticism and Shortcomings===
The hypothesis requires several prerequisites not in accordance with facts. As mentioned above, one prerequisite is the alleged existence of a monolithic bloc of Islamic resp. Arab countries which ignores existing disparities regarding religious, political, social and other differences and conflicts. At the same time, the hypothesis needs to narrow Islam on the Arab countries, ignoring the existence of Islam in other regions of the world. It also makes no distinctions between Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, while on the other hand, Christian and Jewish fundamentalist tendencies are not perceived in a similar way and do not seem to get mentioned at all. The equation of Islam with fundamentalism furthermore serves to portray Islam as the problem per se, again unlike other religions, without offering any proof whatsoever why Islam should differ from other religions in this respect. This equation therefore takes on the character of a basic dogma of the hypothesis, same as the perception of persons of Muslim faith as inferior in comparison to others.

At the same time, the hypothesis requires the existence of a monolithic European bloc, ignoring religious, political, social etc. differences between the individual European countries within EU as well as externally with Muslim resp. Arab countries. The hypothesis does not only deny disparities between those countries forming EU during the 1970ies. As since the fall of the Eastern bloc several countries formerly belonging to COMECON or having been part of the Soviet Union joined EU, this hypothesis apparently expects these countries to have joined a community which subjected itself to Islam and Arab countries. It is hard to imagine that such an EU would have been attractive to countries just having left such a hegemony. The hypothesis does not reflect political facts of today or during the 1970ies, nor the political development taken in both Europe and the Muslim countries over the last 40 years.

The hypothesis alleges a cooperation of European politicians and elites of a secular EU without wasting a thought on why they would work towards an Islamisation of the continent. Some Eurabia proponents contend these were and are cultural Marxists aiming to destroy Western civilisation and merely using Islam as an instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org">http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eurabia</ref> This of course conveniently ignores that part of the political parties represented in the European parliament as well as in the governments, past and present, of member states embrace political views quite opposed to Marxism. Littman, on the other hand, views the conspiring European politicians and elites as an alliance of "fascists, socialists, Nazis, antisemitic rulers".<ref name="en WP Bat Yeor" /> This perception once more is not congruent with facts.

The only documentary evidence cited for Eurabia is the 1975 "Strasbourg Resolution," a non-binding declaration on Euro-Arab co-operation. The document has a mythical status among Eurabia proponents, but its text does not substantiate any conspiracy theory. Supposedly they ignore the major European-Israeli free trade deal made that same year.
The theory gives no plausible reason why European elites and a — ostensibly notoriously secular — EU would want to Islamise the entire continent. A few Eurabia proponents suggest that these elites consist of cultural Marxists, whose real goal is to destroy Western civilisation, and that Islam is simply their instrument.<ref name="rationalwiki.org" />

The hypothesis designs an alleged reality of multiple conspiracies, like a concerted Islamic plot to subdue Europe in which all Arab governments participate notwithstanding any disparities. It further suggests that European governments during the last 40 years unanimously supported this conspiracy, regardless of political parties being voted out and into office with varying political coalitions. At the same time the hypothesis necessitates a secret panel with the ability to transform political, economic, and cultural institutions of all European countries into compliant instruments of an alleged Arab conspiracy, and all this additionally without European press or institutions taking notice or finding out. It is therefore no surprise that neither Ye'or or other proponents of this hypothesis present any proof, and Ye'or's allegations have been labeled as "ridiculous"<ref name="loonwatch.com" />, or "flat-out barking gibberish"<ref name="de.scribd.com" />

Additionally, the hypothesis needs to employ falsifications of historical events and developments. As one example, Littmann alleges in an interview that, during the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the invaders ''"devastated the country, massacred and enslaved the population and expropriated the Jewish and Christian indigenous populations, as is related by contemporaneous sources"''.<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> This is quite dramatically against the facts: during the siege of Jerusalem in 637, the Arab caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab gave Patriarch Sophronius the guarantee that Christian holy places and populations were protected under Muslim rule. A further offer said that Christians were free to leave the city during the siege, which was accepted only by a minority of Christians. The Arab conquest also ended a phase of some 500 years of Jewish banishment from the town, as after the conquest, Jews were again free to settle down in Jerusalem. The Christians' preference of Muslim over Byzantine rule is explained by the fact that the Christian population predominantly belonged to denominations viewed as heretic and had been subject to harassment, while Islam tolerated them as belonging to the 'Family of the Book' of religions with a holy scripture.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Eroberung_durch_die_Araber </ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem#Classical_antiquity </ref>

In the interview, Littman also claimed:
:''"I wrote these books because I had witnessed the destruction, in a few short years, of a vibrant Jewish community living in Egypt for over 2,600 years and which had existed from the time of Jeremiah the Prophet."''<ref name="loonwatch.com" />
With this description, Littmann choses to ignore the fact that of these 2,600 years of Jewish history in Egypt, some 1,300 years were spent under Muslim rule which in Egypt began in 639, during which - even according to Littman's view - the Jewish community enjoyed a "vibrant" life.

It must be particularly noted that Littman also employs, and distorts, religious doctrines to serve her ideology. She alleges that European Christians were following "the Koranic Muslim Jesus, called Isa, [rather] than the Jewish Jesus".<ref name="loonwatch.com" /> Both Judaism and Islam do not view Jesus as the son of god but emphasise his human nature, both reject the notion of Jesus being part of a divine trinity which they both view as heretic. Both Judaism and Islam reject the notion Jesus is to be seen as a Messiah. While in Jewish tradition, the last prophet was Malachi (about 420 BCE), Islam sees Jesus as a prophet sent to spread a message which, however, was misrepresented later on, necessitating another, last prophet in the person of Muhammad.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus </ref> However, while there are basic differences in the perception of Jesus between these three religions, they considerably predate any alleged conspiracy concocted during the 1970ies. Littman must be aware of this, and it is therefore far more likely that she presents this argumentation to once more vilify Islam and Muslims.

{{OtherLang|ge=Eurabia}}

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Conspiracy Theory]]

Deer Tribe

2015-09-02T16:24:41Z

Halbmond:

The '''Deer Tribe''', or Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DT), claims the status of an ethnic group with its name, but it is an artificial association with cult character. Persons willing to join do not need to prove a certain ethnic affiliation or descendence, but must rather submit to a system of courses. Deer Tribe sells a system of courses building on each other, in which students eventually will advance to higher grades of initiation; these courses will incur a fee.

==Formation of Deer Tribe==
[[image:Soke_Reagan.jpg|Harley "Soke" Reagan|thumb]]
Deer Tribe was founded in 1986 by Harley Reagan (a Swiss DT-site, however, claims it was founded „by the end of the 70ies“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Zeremonialmedizin/Deer%20tribe%20Metis%20Medicine%20Society.php</ref>)
Its legend and name have been adjusted several times meanwhile. Although the name suggests it is an indigenous ethnic group or association, this does not correspond with facts. The term 'Métis' is used in Canada, where it describes a state recognized ethnic group with its own culture and language (Michif); in the USA, this term has experienced an increased use as of late, but it is mostly used by persons claiming indigenous ancestry which usually is said to have happened several generations before and usually cannot be verified or documented.

Reagan first posed as a Cherokee and claimed to teach secret Cherokee rituals; in reality, red-haired Reagan is a US-American of Irish descent. After the Cherokee nation clarified Reagan was no Cherokee and that his 'teachings' had nothing to do at all with Cherokee spirituality, he adjusted his legend. Since then, he claims a descent from Cherokee and Maya; his 'teachings' then became an alleged conglomerate of spiritual traditions of several peoples, especially of Maya, Olmec, and Toltecs. Furthermore, Reagan presumably meant to realign to other, already established New-Age vendors and perhaps become attractive to their respective clientele, too, since Reagan took up the terms 'tonal' and 'nagual' launched by Carlos Castaneda, and also claimed to have studied with an alleged Navaho 'shaman' who he says is identical with the Don Gennaro character in Castaneda's books.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm </ref>

==Curriculum vitae of Harley Reagan==
Neither the DT websites nor Wikipedia are able to come up with a curriculum vitae. Research is difficult, as Reagan himself presented lots of divergent and contradictory information. By his own account, Reagan was born in Texas. He further claims to have joined the US Air Force Academy as a cadet in 1958, but already left in May 1959 to join the US Marine Corps in June 1959.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref> After a one-year training, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam for four years, starting in 1960, but also claims his first mission with combat experience took him to Taiwan.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839 </ref>.

Reagan's own most important information regarding his curriculum vitae seems to be the comment his family enjoyed the reputation of being liars and raconteurs of imaginative stories.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref>

Reagan also likes to put forward the air of a fighter who is a master of several martial arts, and he is an arms freak. Besides 'spiritual' teachings, his students receive a training in an alleged Indian martial art. His various claims – like e.g. he was a substitute for the 1964 US Judo team and won a fourth place at the Olympics – were, meticulously and comprehensively, debunked at the website of Bullshido.org in 2007 already. This also applies to Reagan's account of being a highly decorated soldier: from 1960, Reagan claims to have served in Vietnam, then fought Communist guerillas in Taiwan, and to have returned to Vietnam for his third year there in 1964.<ref>http://www.bullshido.org/Claude_Harley_Reagan </ref>

Reagan's knowledge of history seems to be wanting: prior to 1965, the US army had only military advisors stationed in Vietnam, while Reagan claims to have served there as a 'gunner'. Furthermore, a Communist guerilla in Taiwan only exists in his fantasy. Additionally the US army has no records of a person by the name of Harley Reagan ever having been awarded any medals or decorations. Reagan also claims to have held a world championship in Jiu Jitsu between 1967 and 1970 – but according to his own account was in hospital up to 1968 after having been wounded in action by being shot and doing a 100 ms fall out of a helicopter.<ref>http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50839</ref>

It becomes quite clear that Reagan apparently is an embarassing showboater unimpressed by facts who believes no claim too absurde for an attempt to brush up his image.

==Martial arts training and extremist right ideology==
[[image:DTGC.jpg|Deer Tribe Gun Club|350px|thumb]]
From 1986 on (according to DT sites), he starts calling himself Harley „Swiftdeer“ Reagan and later on „Thunder Strikes“. In the USA, Deer Tribe has the status of a „cult and militia“.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=2208.0 </ref> Reagan teaches his students a mix of extremist right ideology, martial arts, and allegedly secret indigenous ceremonies. Reagan's students do not always mention Deer Tribe or Reagan on their sites, but make use of the catchwords of „Twisted Hairs“ and/or „Sweet Medicine Sundance Path“, as well as Chuluaqui Qoudoushka, Reagan's doctrine of supposedly spiritual sexuality.

DT in the USA also maintains a „gun club“ site <ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub.htm </ref>, offers a regular arms training and publishes lists of results.<ref>http://www.thunderstrikes.com/gunclub/matchresults.php </ref> Reagan chose the name of „Chulukua-Ryu“ for his martial art and explains it was developed by several Indian peoples over millenia.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467</ref> Certainly, they will not have named it with the Japanese term „ryu“.

Reagan also recommends students to train in shooting firearms and in martial arts in order to get prepared for a forthcoming 'racial war' against immigrants from Middle and South America.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm </ref> Reagan does not explain how he is able to combine this point of view with an alleged status as Native American – especially since he claims Mayan descent -, and apparently this question is not being raised within DT, either.

Another indication for an extremist right ideology cultivated within DT is an appeal written by Reagan prior to the presidential elections in 2000, in which Reagan quite unabashedly called for DT members and militias to start armed combat in case Al Gore was elected into office.<ref>http://www.goodguyswin.org/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=467 </ref> In this appeal, Reagan adopts the moniker of „The Shooting Shaman“ and also signs the appeal accordingly.<ref>There was no similar appeal when Barack Obama was voted in. According to reports, Reagan is suffering from a tumour; whether the progression of this disease is due to his silence in this matter, however, cannot be established.</ref>

The US website of DT explains:
:''„Integrated self-defense and self-reliance, or overall preparedness, consists of three facets: self defense, survival (both wilderness and urban), and firearms training.'' 
:''These series of self reliance courses was started in 1985 as the „Way of the Warrior Workshops,“ designed to promote physical mastery and presented by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). DTMMS was founded in 1986 by HarleySwiftDeer Reagan; he and his wife Dianne Reagan are the chief instructors. [Note to SMSD apprentices: this corresponds to the Black Lodge program.] 
:''Currently, we offer an annual intensive training in self-defense and the safe and effective handling of firearms.“'' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/index.htm</ref>

There is, however, no detailed information at the US DT site or at the European sites regarding this Black Lodge Programme. The US site also does not mention it in their list of content, quite unlike the Red-Lodge-Programme.

Training with firearms is also not mentioned in the official description of courses offered by European DT branches. Courses in martial arts, however, seem compulsory in order to advance in the so-called 'Gateway' hierarchy of DT. One example is the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defence“ in April 2010 which explains: ''„The training is equivalent to the Black Lodge Standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of this week you will receive a certificate about 45 hours of Black Lodge training. You will be credited entirely with these hours for your self defence resp. gateway process“''.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

Presumably DT does not want to be too precise in public statements about this part of their training. Whether the fundamentally different legislation of most European countries regarding possession of and training with firearms is observed and realized by DT remains unclear.

Apparently DT also cultivates a view of self-defence which differs considerably from the usual perception existing in martial arts: 
''„Current research confirms what Harley SwiftDeer has taught for over 20 years: your best option is to fight. But proper training is essential!“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm</ref>

Once more, Reagan is not able to abstain from enhancing his merit and maintains:
''„These profiles, and the corresponding techniques for stopping these predators, are based on Harley SwiftDeer's thesis, which included in-person interviews of 150 imprisoned rapists and 150 rape victims, studies of actual police reports, and many years of refinement to find the most effective self-defense techniques. Most rape prevention courses in existence today are based on Harley SwiftDeer's original research (also known as psychological rape awareness and Personal Protection Awareness Training [PPAT]).“''<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/wits/self-defense-intensives.htm </ref>

==„Alternative“ Methods of Healing==
At their US website, DT also promotes alternative healing methods as well as the application of 'ceremonial alchemy' <ref>http://www.dtmms.org/</ref> which does not get explained any further.

==The System of Courses==
At the US site at least it becomes apparent that students will enter into a system of courses building on each other, the so-called 'Gateway Process'.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref> Its first level is comprised of a four-year training of which each year has to be booked separately. The advertising text contains extensive promises regarding the personal development of students allegedly caused by the course: 
''„We teach you how to connect with your inner intent, to access different levels of consciousness, to enter heightened awareness, to have happiness, harmony, health, connection and meaning in your life. We teach you how you function as an energy field, and explain the building blocks and energy laws of different dimensional realities.''

''We want you to become an inquisitive free-thinking autonomous individual who takes responsibility for your life and lives it to the fullest. We will empower you and provide a safe journey within a circle of friends who share a desire to make a difference, to take their power and grow up into their highest potential. It is a great journey – but you must do the walking. You must have the willingness to change and make the leap into the next level of human evolution.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/red-lodge-longhouse.htm</ref>

It is also apparent that students will be integrated into a system which facilitates their being controlled: in study groups and lodges.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref> Study groups are attributed as the „nucleus family of our tribe“, while lodges are said to be the „clans of our tribe“.<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/studygroups.htm</ref>

At the same time, interested parties are informed what lies ahead of them if they happen to fail:
''„Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained and added to the even growing body of knowledge. Those that do not hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human enlightenment.“''<ref>http://www.dtmms.org/lineage.htm</ref>

Reagan and DT work with a concept of human advancement which, as the above quote reveals, is not open to every person but apparently only to an elite. This does not only cause a close bond to the system, but also admonishes failure into the realm of individual responsibility. Likewise, internal critics who have developed doubts in the system may be dismissed as 'not chosen' and 'not enlightened'.

==So-called sSpiritual Sexuality==
„Chuluaqui Qoudushka“, or „Qoudoushka“ - sometimes abbreviated to „Q“ by adherents – is an allegedly indigenous system of spiritual sexuality and respective rituals which is taught by DT in courses building on another.

In these courses, participants apparently are broken mentally and pushed into compliance by having to perform various forms of sexual intercourse coram publico.<ref>cf. an article and interview with Reagan published by Phoenix New Times in 2002: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-12/news/sacred-orgasm/1 </ref> The same article also mentions Reagan hires prostitutes for his courses when the number of male participants having booked the course exceeds the number of female participants.

Initially, Reagan declared these alleged teachings to be secret rituals of the Cherokee. When the Cherokee sharply protested Reagan's fantastic ideas, he adapted his explanation of their origins and meanwhile cites an alleged inter-ethnic medicine society, the „Twisted Hairs“: ''"The tradition of the Twisted Hairs on the American continent (north and south) dates back several thousands of years, and has its actual origin also in the lore of the wise of Mu, Lemuria, Mehyun, and Atlantis“''.<ref>http://www.sw-lodge.de/pages/Twisted%20Hairs.htm</ref> Reagan and DT here fall victim to a misconception quite popular in New Age circles: the alleged existence of intertribal medicine persons or societies in Native American ethnicities.<ref>The sexual practices to which course participants are made to submit earned Reagan a nickname in the English speaking parts of Indian Country: "Swift Dick".</ref>

==The extension of Deer Tribe==
[[image:DT1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:DT2.jpg|350px|thumb]]
Given the outrageous theories and derivations, the historical misrepresentations, and the embarassingly transparent improvements of his curriculum vitae, it rather comes as a surprise that Reagan should have been able to attract supporters in the first place. In an interview dated June 2002, Reagan claims 5,000 followers in the USA and several European countries.<ref>http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2002-06-13/news/sacred-orgasm/1</ref>

A presumably official DT site informs about events taking place in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms-europe.com/events_by_country.php </ref>, the US site additionally mentions events in Canada, and claims further DT branches in Australia, England, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>cf. http://www.dtmms.org/locations.htm#europe</ref>

In the German speaking countries, there are several vendors offering Reagan's alleged teachings to a paying clientele.<ref>e.g. http://www.dtmms-europe.com , http://www.dreamers.ch/dreamers.php , http://www.oneheartwarriors.at , http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref> „Lust und Wissen“ [lust and knowledge] e.g. cover the following issues: „Chuluaqui-Quodoushka – Spiritual Sexuality; Women Ways – women's knowledge; Body-Dearmoring; Resculpting; Being parents and assisting children; Men's Mountain Time; Calendar; Skwanesie Lodge; Circle of the Year; Open Ceremonial Days; Eagle Dance; Sweatlodge Ceremony; Paths of Life“.<ref>http://www.lust-und-wissen.de</ref>

Vendors of DT seminars in German speaking countries are e.g.:
*Norbert Gold aka „Batty“ Gold aka ThunderBear
*Rose Fink aka ThunderEagle
Both are Austrian citizens and have been living at the DT HQ in Arizona for a long time before they returned to Europe.
From 2001 to 2005, Gold was mentioned as an authorized signatory of Swiss foundation „Sweet Medicine Metis Sundance Foundation“; his residence was Scottsdale, USA at first.<ref>cf. http://www.edoceo.ch/de/sweet_medicine_metis_sundance_stiftung_CH16070039675.aspx</ref> Gold and Fink also organize DT seminars at the ZEGG premises at Belzig (cf. further down). 
A website apparently maintained for Gold and Fink mentions Gold is active in DT since 1983, Fink since 1986.<ref>cf. http//www.quodoushka.info/rub.php </ref>

Sabina Tschudi aka Sabina Crystal Cave Dreamer and Johannes Schröder aka Johannes Star Licht Carrier [sic] (real-life name presumably Uwe Johannes Schröder) offer seminars in Switzerland and Germany, and maintain the Stardreamer Lodge. Tschudi also launched the above mentioned foundation.

Johanna Nickl aka Johanna StarCrow Nickl and Karsten Guschke aka Karsten FireFox Guschke maintain the Skwanesie Lodge which has the same postal address as [[ZEGG]] in Belzig (several websites state Guschke's e-mail address as „...@zegg...“); another person mentioned is Andrea Moonstar Mrosla.

Brigitte Kimmerle aka Gray Burro maintains the Mirrordancer Lodge and used to be in charge of the European DT site (and possibly still is, as the site is still up but does not seem to be updated too often).

Austrian Wolfram Reiter aka WolfRaven OneHeartedStandingMountain maintains the Warriors Lodge.

==Cooperation with other suppliers on the [[Esotericism|esoteric]] market==
Since a few years, several „teachers“ attached to DT organise seminars in the ZEGG premises in the town of Belzig [ZEGG = Centre for Experimental Cultural Design] which are announced as a „hosted event“ at the ZEGG website. Among these are seminars on the subject of so-called Quodoushka.<ref>e.g.: http://www.zegg.de/index.php?april</ref> Cooperation with ZEGG apparently is due to certain ideological parellels in the domain of sexuality. Detailed information on ZEGG is provided by a meticulous in-depth study titled „ZEGGsismus“.<ref>http://www.nadir.org/nadir/archiv/Antifaschismus/Organisationen/zegg/brosch_rosa/index.html</ref>

Although training with firearms is not visible in the published range of items of the European DT branches, martial arts seminars seem compulsory to advance in the „gateway“ hierarchy of DT: the course description of the seminar „Unarmed Self-Defense“ in April 2010 informs interested parties:
„''This training corresponds to Black Lodge standards of DTMMS and SwiftDeer Thunder Strikes; at the end of the week, you will receive a certificate about 45 Black Lodge training units. These units will be fully included into your achievements as martial arts or self-defence in your gateway process''“.<ref>http://www.dreamers.ch/Selbstverteidigung/Selbstverteidigung.php</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society|en=Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society}}

==Sources==
<references/>

Fotos:
*Reagan: http://www.ten-no-kishi.com/
*Gold und Fink: :http://www.quodoushka.info/rub.php and in a younger age: http://www.adlerin.at/quod.rosebatty.php
*Tschudi und Schröder: http://www.dreamers.ch/Wer%20sind%20wir/Wer%20wir%20sind.php
*Nickl, Guschke, Mrosla: http://www.skwanesie-lodge.de/ueber-uns.phtml
*Wolfram Reiter: http://www.oneheartwarriors.at/wolfram_reiter_wolfrabe
*Brigitte Kimmerle: http://brigitte-kimmerle.de/default.aspx

[[category:Plastic Shamanism]]

Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer

2015-06-29T16:39:45Z

Halbmond: /* Attempts to replicate the experiments */

[[image:Rossi_Focardi.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture "La Repubblica"). A (yellow) dosimetric pump of the type "LMI P18" can be seen in the foreground (maximum flow: 12.1 l/h)|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_Focardi3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture: TV channel "Rainews24")|300px|thumb]]
[[image:John_Michell_Ecat.jpg|Planned book of a John Michell: Rossi's eCcat - Free Energy, Free Money, Free People. (Xecnet Verlag <ref>From the advertising: ''Featured Book

Our featured book is John Michell's new book Rossi's eCat - Free Energy,
Free Money, Free People.

Out Now!

2011 – And an amazing technology has been developed in Italy which has been
described as the greatest scientific discovery of all human history.

Although shunned by most mainstream media - an army of enthusiasts have
created websites, blogs, forums and videos discussing every stage of its
development – while thousands are following this discovery on social
networks.

For the first time in human history - energy – heat and power - have been
produced in abundant quantities at an insignificant cost without pollution.
For the first time energy can be obtained cleanly and cheaply without
burning fossil fuels, without nuclear power and without renewables –
genuinely portable, free, green energy.

Rossi’s eCat tells the story of how this energy source was discovered,
developed by inventor Andrea Rossi, how it challenges modern science and
what the consequences for mankind could be. This is a discovery which
heralds nothing less than the start of a new era – the year 0 PR
(Post-Rossi).''</ref>)|thumb]]
The '''Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer''' (also ''E-Cat'' or ''Rossi Energy Amplifier'') is an alleged compact fusion reactor that was planned to be marketed in 2011. Commercial launch was postponed several times. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer(see below) Andrea Rossi<ref>Rossi: ''I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano''</ref> and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi, [[Cold Fusion|cold fusion]] of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor<ref>Andrea Rossi in his patent application, page 12: ''the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.''</ref> which, at strong heat, led to the creation of copper. Rossi's 2011 demonstrations were criticized by various sources and several alternative explantations for the alleged effects were found. Neither gamma nor neutron radiation typical for fusion processes could be measured<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf</ref>, and there is no proof of the creation of non-natural isotope ratios in the alleged fusion products. The respective experiments which should have shown energy production through "cold fusion" suffered from several methodic shortcomings and displayed contradicting statements. Independent tests, which might have proven a fusion process according to the said principle, failed so far. Specialist literature regarding the "energy-catalyzer" is not available (as of March 2012).

In March 2011, a Greek business journal titled „Investor's World“ reported the concept was central to a speculative investment deal worth several hundred million Euro. Greek startup "Defkalion is offering state licenses for commercialization of the invention at a price of 40.5 million Euros per country since July 2011.<ref>July 6th, 2011 Dear interested party, You have received this email because you have shown an initial interest for commercial involvement with our company and our products based on Andrea Rossi’s e-Cat invention (exothermic reaction between Hydrogen and Nickel). Many have signed non disclosure agreements with us and others are in the process of doing so. We offer you the possibility to meet with us prior to our public announcement that we accept international expressions of interest through our website as of September 2011. As such, this letter will update you on our current status, and provide you with a clearer understanding of the structure with which we are proceeding for all international partnerships. As many of you know, the manner is the same globally. Regarding exclusivity, having received expressions of interest from 63 countries and more than 850 companies, we decided to change our non-exclusivity approach so that due diligence and selection of multiple partners in any given country is the responsibility off the country rights holder. As such, we will only sign agreements with one company per country. Any additional factories will pass through this partner. --- --- Regarding our international sales approach, it is as follows:
 We sell the rights to manufacture our products exclusively to one company for a given country at a fixed royalty price of 40.5 million Euros per factory producing 300,000 units annually. Within this price, we will: 
o Provide the blueprints to establish the factory according to our international standardized plans, including all details for the machinery / software / technical know-how used in the factory.
o Provide transfer-of-knowledge (production, technical, after sales, maintenance) both in Greece as well as on location
 Additional royalties are paid to us for each product sold
 We sell and deliver the industrial secret as a component to the final product in a black box, plug-and-play module.
 Local company partnerships, marketing, points of sales, technical support remains the responsibility of the country rights holder.
 If additional factories need to be built, the same principles remain.
 Our business and pricing is structured to create lucrative win-win opportunities for all. 

Regarding time-line and milestones for those interested to proceed in talks:
 Initial meeting in Athens during July and August (except 14-20 July and 10-20
August) to discuss and sign preliminary expression of interest contract, whereby the opportunity to secure the exclusive rights will be given. 
 Meeting in our factory during October to inspect and verify kW units
 Meeting in our factory during December to inspect and verify MW units 
--- ---
Regarding next steps, and based on the information provided herein, if you
See opportunities that match your company’s capabilities, and if you believe
your company qualifies to proceed with further talks, we welcome your reply to this email
accordingly in order to: 
 Signing of a non disclosure confidentiality agreement sent by us upon
request
 Secure a date for a meeting in Athens during July or August
The abovementioned initial meeting in our offices here in Athens should not
last more than 3-5 hours. Appointments will be set according to availability. As
mentioned above, these meetings will take place during July (excluding above dates). 
--- ---
Regarding factory specs, below is some basic information regarding the overview of the factory requirements according to our standards. Many of you will have already seen these figures; nothing has changed: 
Larger and smaller factories can be negotiated according to markets. Basic
aspects of each factory producing 300,000 units annually (kW and MW product ranges)
are: 
 12,000m2 space (maximum height of 14 meters for half of the allocated
space)
 IT to monitor production line, 1st level support and distribution channels
Assembly of products will include the following activities:
 Build-up of final product (electronics, heat management, etc)
 Assembly of reactors (purchased from Defkalion)
 Quality Control
 Total Quality Management
 Environmental Control
 Stress Tests
 Functional Tests of end products
 Recharging of units
 Recycling procedures 

Factory Special Conditions: 
 Clear air similar to pharmaceutical industry standards
 Access to constant flow of water
 Heat management of waste heat during tests of modules (this heat energy
could also be used to run the factory’s energy needs with third party technology) 
--- ---
Regarding R&D, it is also the case that some of you seek partnerships in the
field of R&D. Such interest is seen favorably, but will be dealt with under
case-by-case assessment following a detailed expression of interest. Please note that
such talks will take place after October 2011. 
--- ---
We would like to reiterate that this communication is made and provided to
you prior to our international announcement in light of your early participation in
this exciting endeavor. As of September we shall be open to the world at-large through our
new website, which, to date, has received nearly 2 million hits since June 23rd.
We look forward to hearing from you accordingly, and look forward to
welcoming you in Greece soon. You can use the same email (i...@defkalion-energy.com) for
your replies. 
Sincerely,
Symeon Tsalikoglou
Director Business Development & Marketing
Defkalion Green Technologies
</ref> However, in August Rossi ended the just weeks old association.

Inventor Rossi, having got in conflict with the law previously, had also supplied thermoelectrical elements of an alleged miraculous efficiency which, however, displayed merely average properties when tested.

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications in 1995 and 2010.<ref>Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion''. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [https://data.epo.org/publication-server/pdf-document?PN=EP0767962%20EP%200767962&iDocId=4823352&iepatch=.pdf]</ref><ref>WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO</ref> Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge priority and importance of Piantelli's patents: ''"My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not."'' Piantelli's patent expert commented in May 2011 that Rossi had no chance to have the functional principle patented since Piantelli already held a patent on it since 1995.<ref>Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 May 3, 2011</ref> Meanwhile, Piantelli has founded the Italian company NichEnergy S.R.L. which is developing a reactor similar to Rossi's.

Some aspects of the claimed functional principle also happen to be similar to descriptions in a patent registered by Yoshiaki Arata in Japan dated July 2005 (see below). A remote similarity to the [[CETI Patterson Power Cell]] and to the [[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]] can also be established.

==Purported functional principle==
[[image:Ecat3.jpg|Power control and main switch|left|thumb]]
[[image:FAE3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and the reactor (demonstration dd. January 14, 2011, Source: [http://curiositybox.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/bologna-14111-cronaca-test-fusione-fredda-del-reattore-nichel-idrogeno-focardi-rossi/ Curiosity-Blog])|350px|thumb]]
[[image:Ecat4.jpg|Heating power can be selected in steps: 0...9|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_Ecat2.jpg|Several "E-cat" stripped of shielding and insulation. The heating element is clearly a "Rotfil S21" (Image: Giuseppe Levi)|350px|thumb]]
[[image:Ecat5.jpg|Power control|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_Ecat.jpg|Outside view of reaction chamber, lead shielding and insulation removed. Below: Outer heating resistor (here: heating sleeve 300W), above: hydrogen intake, left and right: cooling water line. Image: Giuseppe Levi|350px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_control_box.jpg|The "control box" with 12 phase fired controllers of the type "VL676" from company GSEI in Genoa (Genova)<ref>http://www.gsei.it/attachs/P020_01.pdf</ref> (Image: S.B. Krivit)|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:Hydrogen.jpg|Hydrogen pressure indicator|left|thumb]]
[[image:Heizmanschette.jpg|Typical heating sleeve|thumb]]
[[image:Ultramax.jpg|Typical elements of the "Ultramax cartridge heater" (company Rotfil)(Image: [http://www.rotfil.com/public/downloads/PDF-CAR-017-E.pdf])|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi6.jpg|Claims of cheap nickel isotope enrichment as part of the invention (Screenshot: Blog "Journal of nuclear physics", April 11, 2011)|350px|thumb]]
All data currently available regarding the "Focardi-Rossi Energy Catalyzer" come from inventors and their internet blog, from a patent application submitted by Rossi, from YouTube videos, and from statements of the few physicists who tried to replicate the principle. There has been no noteworthy reception on the part of the international physics community so far. An attempt of inventors to publish an article on their device in a renowned professional journal failed. Only individual physicists reacted with public blog entries and comments (e.g.: [http://aleklett.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/rossi-energy-catalyst-a-big-hoax-or-new-physics/][http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion.pdf][http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html]). The most renowned person having commented the energy catalyzer so far is English Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJnZZi41YA&feature=youtu.be</ref>. Josephson has been known for a supporter of so called "cold fusion" for years. As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Focardi and Rossi publish statements in their own "online periodical" titled "Journal of Nuclear Physics", basically an internet blog, and in Italian journal "Il Cimento". Upon inquiry, physicist Focardi advised the "Journal of Nuclear Physics" was founded by Rossi since publication in accredited journals failed. Focardi stated that [http://arxiv.org "arXiv.org"] was the journal which rejected them: ''A. Carnera, S. Focardi, A. Rossi, to be published on Arxiv.''.

Rossi's company EON Srl and "Leonardocorp." did not provide further information so far.

According to – partly contradictory - information available from inventors Focardi and Rossi, the small reactor allegedly enables exothermal fusion. They claim they managed to "produce" 130 kW thermal energy in an extreme case, and needed just 80 to 1,250 Watts to "pre-heat" respectively to operate the electronic control system.

The process - disclosed only partially, although a patent application was filed (not approved as of April 2011) - involves nickel and hydrogen gas transformed to copper in the presence of an unknown catalyst under emission of heat and ionizing radiation. The fusion process is said to happen in a stainless steel reactor vessel which is placed inside of a copper pipe through which cooling water flows. The patent application claims the stable nickel isotope 62Ni28 (which makes about 3.6% of natural nickel) reacted with hydrogen and was transformed into the stable copper isotope 62Cu29. In his blog, Rossi claims he uses nickel isotope enrichment to get the desired amount of nickel isotopes. To be more precise, he claims to use an unexplained process to achieve enrichment with isotope Ni58.<ref>Citation from JONP Blog:
Daniel de França MTd2
April 29th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Dr Mr. Rossi,

Concerning the Nickel input in the experiment, do you deplete it of Ni58?

Best,

Daniel.

Andrea Rossi
April 29th, 2011 at 2:47 PM
Dear Mr Daniel De Francia:
Yes
Warm regards,
A.R.</ref> The costs are said to be just 10% of the overall costs for nickel powder. Actual isotope enrichment is a very expensive process. Rossi, on the other hand, specified the costs for six months of operation as only a few Euros(see below). The copper thus generated is said to contain two stable copper isotopes, with an isotope proportion different from the one in natural copper.<ref>According to S. Focardi in an E-Mail: ''[...] mostra l'esistenza di Cu (non presente inizialmente) i cui due isotopi stabili sono in un rapporto diverso da quello naturale [...]''</ref> An independent analysis in Sweden did not find an isotope ratio different from the natural one. Such a fusion would require very high temperatures and should result in the emission of strong gamma radiation from the destruction of positrons and electrons.<ref>According to Prof. Jonghwa Chang, Chief Research Advisor of the "Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute", in answering an inquiry by an Italian chemist. see: [http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/]</ref> 

While nickel rods were used initially, recent experiments used nickel powder (particle size is said to be in the nm-range, the patent application mentions 10 µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company<ref>Powder nickel: Gerli Metalli--Milan</ref> from Milan as their supplier. Furthermore, unknown catalysts, not specified even in the patent application, are said to be employed. Nickel oxide - which reacts with hydrogen creating water and heat (NiO2 + H2 --> Ni + H20) – allegedly was not used. According to the patent application, an inner water circuit (with a boric acid solution) is placed inside of the reactor, heat is transferred to an external water circuit by a heat exchanger.

By heating with electrical energy, protons from hydrogen gas are said to enter the nickel atoms at 180-400 degrees Celsius and lead to a nuclear reaction if pressure was increased strongly at regular intervals. Altogether, hydrogen is said to be consumed and some helium is generated.<ref>S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, S. Veronesi. "''Large excess heat production in Ni-H systems''". Il Nuovo Cimento Vol. 111 A, N.11 pp. 1233, novembre 1998</ref> The nickel rod is said to show tiny surface craters after a reaction. According to the patent application, the electrical pre-heating will be turned off automatically by a thermostat when a certain operating temperature is achieved. Further electrical energy (20 to 80 W) was only necessary to supply control electronics. The modules controlling the heating resistors are 12 phase fired controllers of the type VL676 from company GSEI in Genoa (Genova)<ref>http://www.gsei.it/attachs/P020_01.pdf</ref> They can be, depending on type, regulated by 10 or 20 A in 20 half-steps (0..9) and have a consumption of 2 watts (in sum 24 W) from a 24 V voltage source. Internet rumours which cannot be verified claim that high voltage or a magnetic field of 360 kV to overcome the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb_barrier Coulomb barrier] might be applied. The application of so high a voltage is not possible within such a small device due to spark generation.

Inventors also claim the mentioned "fusion" generates weak gamma and neutron radiation.<ref>Battaglia, L. Daddi, S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, P.G. Sona, S. Veronesi. "''Neutron emission in Ni-H Systems''". Nuovo Cimento 112A, pp. 921, 1999.</ref> Radiation is said to be β+ corpuscular radiation with positrons (known from potassium 40-decay). They also claim they do not know the exact functional principle. The actual reaction chamber is estimated at a volume of about one litre and shielded by a layer of 2 cms of lead. In their patent application, inventors claim:

:''The above mentioned coatings are so designed as to restrain all radiation emitted by the exothermal reaction and transform said radiation into thermal energy.''

A contribution in their blog speculatively connects the Focardi Rossi Energy Amplifier to the [[hydrino]] theory of American physician and electrical engineer Randell Mills who claims to work with hydrogen and nickel, too.<ref>[http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?p=338 E. Stremmenos: Hydrogen/Nickel cold fusion probable mechanism. Journal of nuclear physics, 12.12.2010]</ref> Mills is said to work with hydrogen and nickel, too. Supporters of "cold fusion" theories often claim so-called [[Low Energy Nuclear Reactions]] (LENR) were taking place. The term LENR is not known to professional journals and such fusion processes have not been proven as of yet.

Further internet speculations assume this was a normal chemical reaction which apparently remained unknown to inventors and which was usually applied in the purification of nickel ores: the "Sherritt-Gordon process"<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_extraction_techniques#Recovery_from_nickel-cobalt_sulfide_concentrates_.28Sherritt_process.29</ref>, which is accompanied by a heat release, but is a conventional chemical reaction. The evidence of copper thus may be explained by the fact that available nickel often contains copper contaminations.

Looking for possible heat sources, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_%28chemistry%29 absorption]] of hydrogen in nickel in a chemical reaction comes to mind. Hydrogen gas can enter into nickel (and other metals). Extraction on the other hand leads to cooling.
===The energy catalyzer and the Widom Larsen theory===
In 2011, cold fusion supporters repeatedly voiced speculations that the functional principle of Rossi's energy catalyzer was connected to a theory which is not recognized by scientific physics, the [[Widom Larsen theory]], in which the Coulomb barrier played no role. On inquiry, Andrea Rossi explained this theory was not necessary to explain the functional principle. The theory was formulated in 2005 by Allan Widom and Lewis Larsen and published in "Eur. Phys. J. C"<ref>"Ultra Low Momentum Neutron Catalyzed Nuclear Reactions on Metallic Hydride Surfaces," Eur. Phys. J. C, 46: 107–111. (2006)</ref> ([http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0505026 Full Text]). According to this theory, the "cold fusion" processes discussed are not actual fusion but interactions in which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_interaction weak nuclear force] plays a role. This theory claims electrons and protons were able to tansform to „ultra low momentum“ neutrons and one neutrino (e- + p ->n + neutrino). The Ultra Low Momentum Neutrons are said to bond to adjacent nuclei after a short time. The Widom-Larsen theory should avoid the problem of the ''"Three Miracles of Cold Fusion"'' of Huizenga - 1993 (the lack of measurable neutron radiation, avoidance of the Coulomb barrier, and the lack of high-energy gamma rays) due to purported compliance with established physical laws. Reactions involving the weak interaction are mediated by [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-Boson W bosons] which could be demonstrated experimentally in 1983 with the particle accelerator (CERN). W-bosons have roughly 80 times the mass of protons and a very short range. 

===The mysterious catalyst===
Inventors claim the high thermal output of the energy catalyzers is the result of a special catalyst whose composition is kept secret. In scientific nuclear physics, contrary to classic physics, the use of a catalyst in fusion processes is unknown.

Unverifiable internet rumours speculate it might be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raney_nickel "Raney-Nickel"] since two fires in Rossi's laboratories were caused by "Raney-Nickel". Upon inquiry, Rossi stated that no Raney-Nickel was used. Focardi stated he was not aware of the composition of the catalyst himself, since only Rossi knew it. In a radio interview dated March 6, 2011, Focardi offered some speculations about the compound. He believes it was a chemical compound, not an element. It was not uranium. The obvious purpose of the substance was to catalyse the transformation of heated hydrogen gas (H2) into atomic hydrogen (a discussion of possible catalysts for this purpose can be found in a paper by Romanowski from 1999<ref>S. Romanowski, W. M. Bartczak, R. Wesołkowski: ''Density Functional Calculations of the Hydrogen Adsorption on Transition Metals and Their Alloys. An Application to Catalysis'', (3.8.1999), Langmuir, 1999, 15 (18), Seiten 5773–5780 - DOI: 10.1021/la981339q [http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/la981339q]</ref>). To complicate the identification of the catalyst, observers were prohibited to do a spectral analysis of possible gamma radiation, since it might allow the identification of elements of the compound.

===Deactivation===
In his report on the experiment dated March 29, 2011, Professor Sven Kullander wrote the reaction was stopped by switching off the heater and increasing the cooling water flow to a maximum of 30 litres per hour. This contradicts previous claims that the heater would be turned off when operating temperature was achieved. The red wire in the picture to the right (cm 31 - 34) apparently is the heater supply. With a cable this thick it is possible to power the heater with 220 volt/10 amp from a regular wall outlet, which could provide 2,200 Watts and explain the generation of steam.

Prof. Kullander also writes the heater acts as „safety“: ''"At the end of the horizontal section there is an auxiliary electric heater to initialize the burning and also to act as a safety if the heat evolution should get out of control."'' Quite apparently, a heater cannot act as a safeguard for a heat generating process.<ref name="Report_Kullander" />

==The self-destruction mechanism==
According to Rossi, future commercial „energy catalyzers“ will include a self-destruction mechanism. Any attempts to inspect the secret operating mechanism and internal components of reactors thus were prevented.<ref>Andrea Rossi June 6th, 2011 at 2:38 PM Dear Greg: Good point.
This is why we are very conservative regarding the sale of single modules. We are engineering a system that will destroy automatically the confidential parts if the reactor is open. The reactors will be open only in our factory to replace the charge. This is why we want not to replace the charges on site. Warm regards, A.R. Andrea Rossi June 2nd, 2011 at 8:01 AM Dear Mr Riccardo: I think that the household targeted items will arrive later. We have to resolve the problem to make them self-destructive in case of opening the reactors. Otherwise, with few thousands of dollars anybody has access to the confidential aspects of the technology. In industrial plants this issue is more easy to afford and has been resolved.
Warm Regards, A.R. Andrea Rossi June 6th, 2011 at 4:50 PM 
Dear Greg: Defkalion, I suppose, will not sell modules until the protection issue will not be resolved. Warm regards, A.R.</ref>

==Claims on practical application and success==
[[image:FAE1.jpg|Input and output of the reactor according to inventors<ref>S. Focardi, A. Rossi: ''A new energy source from nuclear fusion.'', Journal of Nuclear Physics. [http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/files/Rossi-Focardi_paper.pdf]</ref>|400px|thumb]]
According to Focardi and Rossi, they achieved increasing heat quantities with their device over the years. They claim one nickel rod was sufficient for six months of operations. Rossi, in his patent specification, anecdotally reports he was heating his company's bureaus with this reactor which resulted in some 90% savings regarding electricity bills over a period of six months:

:''A practical embodiment of the inventive apparatus, installed on October 16, 2007, is at present perfectly operating 24 hours per day, and provides an amount of heat sufficient to heat the factory of the Company EON of via Carlo Ragazzi 18, at Bondeno (Province of Ferrara)."''

A "kW-module" allegedly runs in his "Leonardo facility" in New Hampshire (USA) since 2008.

==Details regarding nickel consumption and costs==
According to Rossi, 100 grammes of nickel powder were consumed over a period of six months at 10 kW (therm.) output. The cost for the "fuel" thus amounted to 2 Euro.<ref>Nyteknik-Chat 12.03.2011, [http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3124295.ece]</ref> An E-cat will cost about 2,000 Euro per kW output (a 10 kW-model thus will amount to 20,000 Euro). In the North American radio chat show "Coast to Coast AM", known for propagating [[Conspiracy Theory|conspiracy theories]], Rossi said in March 2011 his planned 1 MW small power station will cost 2 million Dollars, while his 10 kW E-Cat later will cost a mere 5,000 Dollars.<ref>Interview with Andrea Rossi, Talk Radio "Coast to Coast AM", on March 23, 2011 [http://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/rossi-cold-fusion-device]</ref> According to Greek journal "Investor's World" of March 2011, future "E-cat" devices will produce electrical energy through an "inverter". Customers were to face an annual cost of 1,300 Euros for the production of a 24/7 output of 20 kW (not specified whether thermal or electric). "Defkalion Green Technologies" plans to request inclusion into the "renewable energy" programme by RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy).<ref name="talefta">[http://talefta.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-mainstream-coverage-of-e-cat-and.html Blog about the "Investors World" article]</ref><ref name="scan">[http://www.xanthipress.gr/eidiseis/politiki/6874-xynidis-ependysi-hyperion-xanthi-ydrogono-nikelio-paragogi-energeias-ergostasio-xanthi.html Coverage and scan of the article in "Investors World"] (Greek)</ref><ref name="Investors World Article">Article in Greek journal "Investors World" of March 12, 2011, pages 20-21</ref>

==History==
[[image:RF_Ferrara.jpg|First experiments with an „ECat“ predecessor by EON in Bondeno(Ferrara). See „reactor“ on the right, cooled in a bucket of water. (Picture: S. Focardi, May 2011 [http://it.paperblog.com/la-fusione-fredda-e-tornata8230-371137/])|350px|thumb]]
"Anomalies" when adding hydrogen to nickel have been reported since 1936. 1989 was marked by wide media attention to cold fusion as a result of claims regarding failed experiments by Fleischmann and Pons. In the same year, Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli (formerly University of Siena) believed to have incidentally observed a strong heat emission with temperatures above 1,450° C during an experiment with organic material which came into contact with nickel and hydrogen (nickel is used in industry as a catalyst for fat hardening with hydrogen), which he was not able to explain. The incident was reported by several Italian daily papers. In 1995, Piantelli received a "Truffle Prize" for his observations during a "Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen / Deuterium Loaded Metals".<ref>"Truffle Prize", second Asti Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen / Deuterium Loaded Metals, 1995</ref> Various workgroups have done experiments with electrolysis and with nickel and hydrogen since then.

Piantelli founded a private organisation called I.M.O. (''Centro Interuniversitario interdipartimentale per lo studio delle interazioni biofisiche e biochimiche tra molecole e organismi'') after he left Siena University. He developed a method called SQME (''Sequenze di Campi Magnetici ed Elettrici'' - ''Sequence of magnetic and electric fields'') there which, applied to cancer patients, allegedly raised body temperature by four degrees and thus worked as a [[Hyperthermia|hypothermic]] treatment. Specialist literature on this issue does not happen to be known.

Physicist Sergio Focardi from Bologna University heard about Piantelli's observations of temperature increase with nickel-hydrogen reactions and teamed up with him to research the phenomenon. After several years they had built a nickel hydrogen rector and, in a press conference in February 1994, announced their reactor as a principle for "Reazioni Nucleari a Bassa Energia" (LENR, "Low Energy Nuclear Reactions"), avoiding the term "cold fusion", however.<ref>Press conference on 20. February 1994, Aula magna, University Siena</ref> Once more articles were published in the daily press and as before in 1989, there were no academic publications. An output of 40-50 thermal Watts was claimed. A nickel rod with a pre-treated surface which had been "degassed" for several hours was said to be enclosed in the reactor surrounded by hydrogen. Italian industry looked into the matter and tried to exploit the Piantelli principle commercially. However, all attempts to put it to industrial application failed. Companies involved were TESCA Syndicate (companies Bulla, Bergomi, Foglia, Italkero and Ecosystem), FIAT AVIO SpA corporation and PROVITA s.r.l.<ref>http://www.enea.it/produzione_scientifica/pdf_volumi/V2008_16Cold_Fusion_Italy.pdf</ref>

In 2007 Andrea Rossi is said to have offered Sergio Focardi a contract as a consultant, which led to cooperation.

==Experiments and demonstrations==

===Experiment on December 16, 2010===
A test of the E-cat reactor was done on December 16, 2010 (apparently in Bologna), but so far no details are known.

===Presentation on January 14, 2011===
[[image:FAE4.jpg|Video of an experiment taking several minutes during a public presentation on January 14, 2011 (Source: [http://curiositybox.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/bologna-14111-cronaca-test-fusione-fredda-del-reattore-nichel-idrogeno-focardi-rossi/ Curiosity-Blog])|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:RF_14012011_3.jpg|Temperature curve, with two periods (17 minutes) during which 100°C were reached (reconstructed from video)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_14012011_tp2.jpg|Reconstructed superposition of temperature and heating curve. The time difference between the two curves is to be noted, it is a result of a simplification which equates the start of heating with the start of the temperature rise. (an improved diagram is in progress)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_Dauer2.jpg|Screenshot from a video of the experiment used to estimate its duration|left|thumb]]
[[image:Ecat power.jpg|Diagram showing the timeline of electrical heating input during the experiment|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_Thermometer.jpg|Comparison of the shown probe to a HP474AC probe (Image: www.physicsforums.com)|thumb]]
[[image:RF_Pumpe.jpg|Specifications of pump used "LMI P18" (Image: www.physicsforums.com)|thumb]]
Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi gave a press conference on January 14, 2011 which was not only attended by Italian public television station RAI (RAI 3) and numerous journalists, but also by several physicists employed at universities. Admission was restricted to invited guests. The presentation was done in rooms rented from the company "GM System" in an industrial area of Bologna<ref>Company GM System, Via dell'Elettricista 16, Bologna</ref> and not in rooms of Bologna University, as is claimed on various websites. GM Systems has further business ties to Rossi. During this press conference, the function of the reactor was demonstrated for about an hour (55 minutes) in an adjoining room. An analysis of recorded measurement data which can be seen on the screen of a notebook in a Youtube-video for a couple of seconds allow to estimate a period of 15 to 20&nbspminutes(probably 17  minutes), during which a water temperature of 100 degrees or more was achieved. (see picture). The data visible on the notebook were omitted from the report on the experiment (according to physicist Levi, they were "lost"). Later, in June 2011, it became known the data were not actually "lost", Levi was willing to send them to the visiting journalist Steven Krivit. The report also mentions a period of 40 minutes, obviously referring to the entire period including heating up. To calculate the heat output, inadvertent or deliberately incorrect data of water throughput were included, which was in truth less than half of the said amount. The inventors reported the experiment in their blog<ref>http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?p=360</ref>, and published three Youtube videos in Italian language [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-0WvK2b7dU], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmHZrhTQhUc].

During the press conference they mentioned a heat input of 600 Watts, at a calculated output of 12,000 Watts (12 kW). However, according to a report published (G. Levi), actual supplied power was 1,022 Watt on average. A further analysis of the data published showed a result of 1,073 Watt.<ref>http://www.e-catalyzer.se/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7</ref> Power used was between 400 and 1,500 W. The inventors calculated their estimate of generated heat from the heated water: 292 grammes of water per minute were heated from 20 °C to 101 °C (allegedly dry vapour) and evaporated. The attending physicists were allowed to take some measurements. They were disappointed, however, as a spectral analysis of the gamma radiation was denied for secrecy reasons. A detailed report submitted by independent physicists from Bologna University stated that no gamma radiation was detected, although the device was supplied with two openings for measurement purposes. Excerpt from the report:
:''[...] no gamma radiation above the background level in the energy region Eγ > 200 keV has been observed, neither in single counting, not in coincidence; regardless of the internal details of the reaction chamber, shieldings and other industrial secrets, the γ rates measured with the NaI counters seem not compatible with the rates deduced or expected assuming that the energy production was due to nuclear fusion or decay reactions, as suggested in [1].''
Observers were allowed to weigh the hydrogen gas container before and after the experiment (weight: 13,66 kgs). Even considering possible errors in measurement (duct tape still attached), hydrogen usage was estimated at less than one gramme. Not enough to make conventional hydrogen combustion plausible. Link to the report: [http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf]
[[image:Rf_14012011_8.jpg|Alternative calculation explaining the reported values without cold fusion(Source: unknown author "Ascoli65" from Italian forum EnergeticAmbiente.it)|480px|thumb]]
'''Inconsistencies''': Several incomprehensible pieces of information were provided shortly after the experiment. Even weeks later, Rossi's team did not react with a correction. Not only was the duration of the experiment shorter than claimed before at 17 minutes (during which temperature was close to or above 100 degrees), but there is also reason to doubt further claims of inventors and operators of the experiment. The estimate of energy by evaporation of water(phase change) was criticized at "www.physicsforums.com" in retrospect, as respective calculations were made assuming dry vapour without fractions of condensed water, which was not proven. The probe shown in the video can only measure the heat but not relative humidity of the steam. A combined probe of the type HP474AC (Delta Ohm) was claimed to have been used, but the video shows a different probe which looks like an SPC C45 0500 BEX - probe. An HP474AC probe is not visible in any video. The claimed water throughput of 292 ml/min. (= 17.5 liter/h) was doubted too, since the pump used had only half of this capacity according to specification. A pump of the type "LMI P18" had been used, as was confirmed in May 2011 by the Swedish journalist Mats Lewan. Several previous inquiries about the type of pump were not answered by Andrea Rossi.<ref>From JONP-Blog, Question to Rossi: ''January 28th, 2011 at 10:57 AM Excuse, Dr. Levi, my insistence, but on the lack of an answer to my previous question, let me temporarily assume that the model of the pump used in the January 14th test belongs actually to the Milton Roy LMI Series P1. In such a case, the capacity per stroke could be at maximum 2 ml (model P18 in the Series P1). Now, considering the pump has been operated at about 57 strokes per minute (hear sound at the beginning of movie 2/3), it makes a maximum water flow rate of 114 ml per minute, that would be 39% only of the value indicated in your preliminary report. Probably, I have got a bad impression and the pump was another one. So I think it would be of great importance, if you could gather and kindly specify, here and/or on the final version of your report, the real specific model and the relevant operating data of the water pump used in your verification test. Thank you and best regards'' (Name) A. Rossi: Andrea Rossi January 28th, 2011 at 10:32 PM Dear (Name): I do not know which kind of pump it was, because it has been chosen by the testers, but what I can say, regarding your comment, is: 1- the amount of the flow of water has been tested many times during the test, filling a reservoir with a well known volume and taking the time to fill it up. 2- I thank you very much for validating our test by redundance: in fact, if only the 39% of the measured flow should have been passed, the reactor would have produced 4.8 kWh, consuming 400 Wh. I am sure that you, being an engineer of a great energy provider, know the first and also the second thermodynamic principle, therefore I am sure you made your comment to congratulate us. For this reason I thank you infinitely. Warm Regards, Andrea Rossi</ref>.
The manufacturer specifies a maximal flow of 12.1 l/h for the LMI P18.<ref>http://www.lmipumps.com/Files/lmi/Global/US-en/site_files/seriesj5.pdf</ref> Other models (A/B/C) of LMI pumps can be ruled out, as they definitely look different. Water throughput of these programmable peristaltic pumps can be regulated. The number of strokes per minute and the pumped volume can be regulated separately. The maximal number of strokes is 100 per minute. At 100 strokes/min, maximum throughput will be achieved. In one of the YouTube videos of the presentation on January 14, 2011, pump strokes are clearly audible for 30 seconds.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE</ref> Counting them, 29 or 30  strokes in those thirty seconds can be established. The pump was regulated to 59 to 60 strokes/minute, which corresponds to 60% of maximal flow rate. The heat output calculated by the team is thus 240% higher than the output actually possible using the pump shown in the video, and therefore certainly wrong. These faulty specifications on the average power (1,073 W instead of 600 W) result in an additional grave error of 78%. Assuming just a few percent of condensed water in the vapour would allow to explain the steam generation just by electrical heating.
The report on the experiment states that the hydrogen cylinder employed was weighed before and after the test to establish the amount of hydrogen used with a margin of less than a gramme. Regarding the weight of the pressure cylinder, different data are given, but it is said to have been 13.66 kg. Available scales for the given range (for 20/30/60 kg) allow to read weight in steps of 0.1 gramme, but their precision is far less. Possible scales just offer a precision of 0.2 to 0.4 gram.<ref>Sartorius (CPA34001S) 34 kg d=0,1 gr e 0,2 gr.[http://www.sartorius-mechatronics.com/DE/de/praezisions-waage-dy3xpfyyb7o.html] Precisa 490K 34000D, 34 kg d=0,1 gr e 0,2 gr [http://www.as-waegetechnik.de/produkte/Industriewaagen/iw/praezisionswaagen_assets/Precisa%20490.pdf] Kern CDS 15K0.05 15 kg d=0,05 g, e 0,25 g Adam Equipment PGL-20001 Precision Balance 20 kg d 0.1g, linearity (±): 0.4g</ref>

===Undocumented experiment on February 10/11, 2011===
On February 10 or 11, 2011, a further "internal test" of the „E-Cat“ was carried out in Bologna, attended by allegedly "independent" physics lecturer Guiseppe Levi from Bologna University. Several internet sources claim the test instead happened on February 18, 2011. Sole witness was physicist Levi, head of a physics faculty research group which received financial grants for their support in the project. Levi was also responsible for the poor quality report regarding the test in January. According to Guiseppe Levi's description, published in a Swedish online article titled ''"Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion"''<ref>Mats Lewan: ''Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion'', "nyteknik.se", article from February 23, 2011. [http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3108242.ece Text]</ref>, a hose connected the device to a water tap this time in order to cool the "reactor". Tap water was said to have flown through the device at about 1 liter per second and was warmed by 5 degrees (to 15-20 degrees). Obviously this test was done to counter the criticism of test conditions in January. The test was said to have run continuously for 18 hours, a water meter quantified the flow, and the test was monitored by video during the night (this video was never released). The "reactor" was allegedly heated up for ten minutes with 1,250 Watts initially and subsequently only a control unit was supplied with 80 Watts, while an alleged constant thermal performance of 15-20 Kilowatt was established. According to Levi, 0.4 grammes of hydrogen were used in those 18 hours. The same source quotes Levi with the remark he now excluded "chemical energy sources" as heat source:

:''...Now that I have seen the device work for so many hours, in my view all chemical energy sources are excluded..''.

The alleged heat output was calculated by supporters of [[Cold Fusion]] (LENR ''Low Energy Nuclear Reactions'' - CANR ''Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reactions'') at 270-288 kWh (about one GJ), which was compared to the energy of 26 litres of heating oil.<ref>Zitat: News Rossi 18-hour demonstration 
 
February 2011 
 
On February 10 and 11, 2011, Levi et al. (U. Bologna) performed another test of the Rossi device. Compared to the January 14 test, they used a much higher flow rate to keep the cooling water from vaporizing. This is partly to recover more heat, and partly because Celani and others criticized phase-change calorimetry as too complicated. There were concerns about the enthalpy of wet steam versus dry steam, and the use of a relative humidity meter to determine how dry the steam was. A source close to the test gave Jed Rothwell the following figures. These are approximations: 
 
Duration of test: 18 hours 
Flow rate: 3,000 L/h = ~833 ml/s. 
Cooling water input temperature: 15°C 
Cooling water output temperature: ~20°C 
Input power from control electronics: variable, average 80 W, closer to 20 W for 6 hours 
 
The temperature difference of 5°C * 833 ml = 4,165 calories/second = 17,493 W. Observers estimated average power as 16 kW. A 5°C temperature difference can easily be measured with confidence. 
 
3,000 L/h is 793 gallons/h, which is the output of a medium-sized $120 ornamental pond pump. 
 
The control electronics input of ~80 W is in line with what was reported for tests before Jan. 14. Input power was high on that day because there was a problem with cracked welding, according to the Levi report. 
 
18 hours * 16 kWh = 288 kWh = 1,037 MJ. That is the amount of energy in 26 kg of gasoline (7.9 gallons). Given the size and weight of the device, this rules out a chemical source of energy. 
 
Levi et al. are expected to write another paper about this test. We will upload it when it becomes available. NyTeknik published a fascinating description of the latest experiment (in English). This includes new details, such as the fact that the power briefly peaked at 130 kW. NyTeknik also published an interview with two outside experts about the demonstration: Prof. Emeritus at Uppsala University Sven Kullander, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences Energy Committee, and Hanno Essén, associate professor of theoretical physics, Swedish Royal Institute of Technology. Two versions are available, in English and Swedish. LENR-CANR Org. News from February 2011. [http://lenr-canr.org/News.htm]</ref>
Assuming an average output of 17 kW (the input of electrical energy for pre-heating and control may be neglected) over 18 hours actually renders about 300 kWh, arithmetically speaking. The fuel value of 1 litre of oil is at about 10 kWh<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heating_oil</ref> so that in terms of figures, an amount of 30 litres may be calculated to produce the same heat quantity.

Since the volume of the visible devices can be estimated, interested parties in the internet (Usenet) tried to find candidates for a known chemical reaction which could be done in the given volume and produce enough heat while disregarding problems like smoke emission, toxicity, costs, and controllability. While a normal chemical reaction can indeed not be ruled out for the first demonstration in January, a replacement candidate for the alleged 18 hour experiment in February could not be found. The volume of the external control unit is said to be about 60 litres, but contained only electronics according to Levi. He estimated the actual reaction chamber at a volume of about 1 litre. The shielding is said to be a layer of 2 cms of lead with an overall weight of 30 kgs.

The placement of the probe, supposed to measure water temperatures during the test, was also criticized. The probe was inserted from outside the "reactor" and might have come into contact with an inner heating resistor which would have rendered an assessment of heat output impossible. Further criticism was targeted at the start temperature which might even have been below the (unknown) room temperature, which even more complicates the interpretation of the data.

===Experiment on March 29, 2011===
[[image:29032011_1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:29032011_5.jpg|(with claimed working conditions)|350px|thumb]]
[[image:29032011.jpg|380px|thumb]]
[[image:rf_2011_4.jpg|Comparison of different heating curves|350px|thumb]]
A six-hours' presentation was performed in Bologna on March 29, 2011, attended by the invited Swedish physicists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén. Both had traveled from Sweden at the invitation of Rossi, travel expenses were paid by Rossi. Due to "stability reasons", a smaller "energy catalyzer" with lesser output was used, and is said to have yielded 25 kWh within 6 hours with a thermal output of 4.4 kW. The same pump as in January, the LMII P18, was used in this presentation, but this time the capacity was compatible with the maximum flow capacity specified by manufacturers and therefore probable. Water throughput was stated at 6.27 kg/h (104 ml/min). As in the experiment in January, water was evaporated, but without measuring relative humidity of the vapour, errors in measurement of up to 600% may occur. It is also impossible to establish in retrospect whether the water was evaporated completely, since the warm water drain was placed next to the steam port. The assembly was filled with 50 grammes of nickel powder. Initially, hydrogen gas was pumped into the device at 25 bar but without previously pumping air out. Quote: ''The air of atmospheric pressure remained in the container as a small impurity.'' (Note: If oxygen from the air stayed inside - as claimed -, water could have formed, since nickel powder acts as a catalyst). Heating was done at 300 Watt.<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3144827.ece</ref><ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3144772.ece</ref><ref>http://22passi.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-fisici-svedesi-sulle-cat-e-una.html</ref> During the presentation, insulation and lead shielding were removed from some E-cats displayed, but not from the E-cat used. Attending Giuseppe Levi made photos which were published in Italian and Swedish blogs. The Swedish observers wrote a report also published in internet blogs. In their report<ref name="Report_Kullander">http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3144960.ece/BINARY/Download+the+report+by+Kullander+and+Ess%C3%A9n+%28pdf%29.</ref>, they excluded a conventional chemical reaction:

:''Any chemical process should be ruled out for producing 25 kWh from whatever is in a 50 cubic centimeter container. The only alternative explanation is that there is some kind of a nuclear process that gives rise to the measured energy production.''

Observers invited were allowed to examine two material samples in advance: the nickel powder and "spent" nickel powder from an experiment which previously had been run for 2 and a half months. Rossi delivered the samples during a visit to Sweden. According to an analysis performed at the Ångström Laboratory (Ångströmlaboratoriet) of Uppsala University, the used sample contained 10% copper and 11% iron. Surprisingly, the isotope ratio of nickel and copper (isotope 63 and isotope 65) was equal to the natural isotopic composition.

:''Both measurements show that the pure nickel powder contains mainly nickel, and the used powder is different in that several elements are present, mainly 10 percent copper and 11 percent iron. The isotopic analysis through ICP-MS doesn’t show any deviation from the natural isotopic composition of nickel and copper.''

The ratios specified were: Cu-63 70%, Cu-65 30%. Professor Sven Kullander commented such a result as extremely unlikely:
:''If this reaction chain would be true even though none of the responses that I mention can be made with the knowledge we have today, then isotopic distribution Cu-63/Cu-65 be greater than 80/20, probably closer to 99/01.''<ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/vortex-l@eskimo.com/msg44471.html Sven Kullander's additional comments on Rossi's Energy Catalyzer] im Mailarchive</ref>

The natural isotope ratio of 63Cu to 65Cu is 2.24 (69.17% to 30.83%). Focardi had previously claimed the copper isotope ratio would be reduced to 1.6 by "fusion".<ref>S. Focardi, A. Rossi, ''A new energy source from nuclear fusion'', Journal of Nuclear Physics, http://www.journal-of-nuclearphysics.com/?p=66, Februar 2010</ref> While there are further copper isotopes, these are unstable and are not found in nature (69,17 + 30,83 = 100).

It is not only statistically (almost) impossible that, after an alleged fusion reaction with copper as a fusion product, a "used" sample will show the same isotope ratio as found in nature. Further considerations on sample analysis expose insurmountable obstacles to the possibility of fusion: In theory, the stable copper isotopes 63Cu and 65Cu might be a result of fusion of hydrogen and nickel isotopes 62Ni and 64Ni (add one proton each). But according to the Swedish Institute having analysed the samples, the unused nickel sample only contained 4.5% in sum of these stable nickel isotopes. Assuming all nickel 62 and nickel 64 atoms had been fused (which is unlikely) with a proton (hydrogen nucleus), the amount of copper would not amount to even 10% of the resulting mass. Even an alternative reaction chain with unstable isotopes is impossible based on the measured isotope ratios and the absence of radiation. It would be possible to assume nickel 58 as a starting isotope which would become copper 59 and decay to nickel 59 which in turn would become copper 60 and decay to nickel 60 which would fuse to copper 61, decay to nickel 61 and fuse to copper 62 and decay to nickel 62. In the end stable copper 63 would be formed. But this would necessitate a completely different copper isotope ratio then found in the analysis.

===Experiments in April 2011===
[[image:19042011_2.jpg|Temperature graph and alleged working conditions of the test on April 19|350px|thumb]]
[[image:28042011_1.jpg|Two heating resistors switched on (9/3)|left|thumb]]
[[image:28042011_4.jpg|Temperature graph and alleged working conditions of the test on April 28|350px|thumb]]
[[image:28042011_2.jpg|Possible concealed adjustment of heating by Rossi during the experiment|left|thumb]]
On April 19 and April 28, the E-Cat was presented to Swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik journal). To measure the energy produced, water was heated and, at an input of just 300 Watts, allegedly several litres of water evaporated. Rossi estimated the heating output at more than 2 kW. A regular publication of the results did not happen. Lewan, thrilled by the invention, published details only on a few websites ([http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3166567.ece/BINARY/Report+test+of+E-cat+19+April+2011.pdf] [http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3166569.ece/BINARY/Report+test+of+E-cat+28+April+2011.pdf]). A short video of the experiment on April 28, 2011 is available.<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3166451.ece</ref> The dosimetric pump LMI P18 was used once more. Water throughput was specified with 63-69 ml/min this time, a value which is possible according to manufacturers' specifications. Stroke frequency was 32/min. With a stroke-volume of 2 ml (maximum), the throughput is 64 ml/min, a value which corresponds exactly to the values established by other measurements during the experiment. The weight of the pumped water was measured several times as it flowed through the device within a determinated period of time. Since the supplied electrical heating power of 315 Watt was just measured once at startup with a pliers ammeter, it remains unclear whether the heating input was constant. When journalist Lewan went into an adjoining room and did a pan shot with his video camera, Rossi was seen tampering with the heating regulation. It is therefore unclear whether the input remained constant during the experiment. The American journalist Krivit created a video at the end of July 2011, that comments on cuts from the video by Mats Lewan: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uviXoafHWrU]

A further experiment allegedly planned for April 21, 2011<ref>http://energycatalyzer.blogspot.com/2011/04/rossi-brings-e-cat-to-stockholm-royal.html</ref>, allowing Swedish scientists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén of Uppsala University to test the E-Cat, was later denied by Rossi.<ref>http://energycatalyzer.blogspot.com/2011/04/andrea-rossi-no-e-cat-test-at-uppsala.html</ref>

===Presentation on June 14, 2011===
[[image:RF14062011_1.jpg|Experiments on June 14, 2011 (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011Strom.jpg|Current measurement: 3,5 A (805 W). (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|left|thumb]]
[[image:Krivit_Rossi2.jpg|Steven B. Krivit (left) and Andrea Rossi (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_Pumpe2.jpg|Pump settings on June 14, 2011 (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:LMI_Pump.jpg| Datasheet of the pump model (LMI [http://www.lmi-pumps.com/Manuals/157983_1615n.pdf])|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_Dampf2.jpg|Steam outlet to drain (Picture: S.B. Krivit)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_Dampf.jpg|White Steam against a dark backround at hose outlet (Picture: S.B. Krivit)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_KV1.jpg|Cooling water temperature curve|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_KV3.jpg|thumb]]
On June 14, 2011 a further demonstration of four E-cat devices took place in Bologna. The U.S. publisher of "New Energy Times", Steven B. Krivit was invited. Krivit and other visitors were allowed to take pictures and follow the measurements during the presentation. As before, the actual reactor was not allowed to be inspected. Krivit conducted several video interviews with Andrea Rossi, Sergio Focardi, and the physicist Guiseppe Levi.

According to information from an Italian blog, the ECat was connected to a control unit by two power cables. The power taken from the main supply was 805 Watt (230 V / 3.5 A). According to Rossi, heating power was just 748 W, but he falsely assumes a voltage of 220 V (220 x 3,4 A = 748 W). Voltage in Italy has been 230 V for 10 years now. A voltage of more than 230 V was measured in the showrooms several times. Rossi specified the entire heating output of the reactor at 5 kW, which would correspond to an "energy efficiency" of 6.7 times the input.

At an ambient temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius, water with a temperature of 26.5 degrees had been heated to 100,1 degrees using the LMI pump already known, and all water was evaporated. Rossi once more claims the same improbable value for water flow of 7 kg/h(117 gr/min, 1.94 gr/s). Watching a video taken by observer Steven Krivit, however, shows that pump frequency was about 20-24 strokes/min.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-8QdVwY98E</ref> Thus water flow had to be below 48 grams per minute (or 0.8g/s, 2.88 kg/h). In a picture taken by observer Passerini, a pumping rate of 40 is visible (80 ml/min, 1.33 ml/s, 4.8 l/h). It remains unclear, however, whether the picture was taken during the experiment. The temperature curve of the cooling water cannot be brought into a meaningful relationship to the claimed flow rate of 7kg/h: Cooling water comes from a water canister with a temperature sensor of about 25 cms length plugged in from the top. When the water is pumped away, the probe gets out of the water and takes up air temperature quickly. A screenshot of the temperature curve on the notebook shows that quite a lot of water was drained during the first half of the day, so that the probe hung in the air soon. In the afternoon water flow apparently was throttled. For at least three hours the probe was in water(about 12:00 to 15:00). This means that during these three hours, 9 liters of water (calculated from the dimensions of the canister and the length of the probe) were drained at most, which would be about 3 liters per hour and correspond to the calculated value from the audible stroke frequency of the pump. To get to 7 liters/h, someone would have had to secretly pour 4 liters of water with 26.5 degrees into the canister. Adding colder tap water would have shown in the temperature curve.

Krivit published a disappointing preliminary report three days later.<ref>Krivit S.B.: ''Preliminary Report of Interviews with E-Cat Trio Rossi, Focardi and Levi''. June 16, 2011. New Energy Times Blog. [http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/06/16/preliminary-report-of-interviews-with-e-cat-trio-rossi-focardi-and-levi/]</ref> According to his preliminary report, the steam outlet was not visible and ended directly in a drain. Only when a black hose was removed from the drain (Rossi was careful to lift the hose to let any water in the hose run down the drain), "white steam" could be seen exiting the hose. 100 % dry steam is invisible, white steam is a sign of condensed water droplets.

According to the summary by Krivit, ''the scientific details provided by the E-Cat trio have been highly deficient and have not enabled the public to make an objective evaluation''. The Essen/Kullander report, too, had ..''significant weakness in its presentation of data and calculations and is highly constrained by the methodology dictated and instrumentation provided by the E-Cat trio''. According to Krivit, he is not sure if Levi did understand the potential impact of confirmation of dry vapour. Krivit advised Levi to rework his controversial report of January 21, 2011 and asked for original raw data measured by chemist Galantini during the experiment on January 14, 2011, which allegedly confirmed dry vapour in that experiment. A fierce dispute broke out between Krivit and Levi over these data. Levi is said to have agreed to send him the "Galantini Data". The "Galantini data" are, however, just a set of e-mails from a chemist who is claimed to have done measurements.<ref>-------- Messaggio originale -------- Oggetto: sonda Data: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:56:41 +0100
Mittente: Greit Service srl xxx@greitservice.it> A: <francesco.celani@xxx;

Si certifica che lo strumento con cui è stato effettuata la misura dell'acqua libera nel vapore durante il test svoltosi a Bologna il 14.01.2011 era lo strumento HD37AB1347 della Delta Ohm dotato di sonda mod.HP474AC con campo di risoluzione -40;+150°C. 

Galantini dr.Gilberto *GREIT SERVICE s.r.l. via Monsignore di Sotto, 32/A
44040 ALBERONE DI CENTO (FE)
C.F. e P. I.V.A. 02544400373
[omissis]

----- Messaggio inoltrato da [omissis]-----
Data: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:02:22 +0200
Da: Greit Service srl
Rispondi-A:Greit Service srl [omissis]
A: [omissis] 

Buon giorno, in merito alla richiesta fattami in data odierna, come da me ripetutamente confermato alle numerose persone che me ne hanno fatto richiesta in passato, ripeto che tutte le mie misurazioni effettuate durante le decine di test per misurare la quantità di acqua non evaporata presente nel vapore prodotto dai generatori “E-Cat” sono sempre state effettuate dando i risultati in % di massa poiché lo strumento utilizzato indica i gr. di acqua per mc. di vapore. 
Confermo che la temperatura misurata è sempre stata maggiore di 100,1°C. 
E che la pressione misurata nel camino è sempre risultata essere pari alla pressione ambiente. 
Lo strumento utilizzato durante il test effettuato alla presenza dei professori svedesi è stato il seguente: Testo 176 H2 codice 0572 1766. 
Distinti saluti. 

Galantini dr. Gilberto 
Ordine dei Chimici n.194 
Provincia di Ferrara</ref> It is apparent from the e-mails that the commisioned chemist Gilberto Galantini used an unsuitable meter for the problem at hand. Galantini measured a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity#Relative_humidity relative humidity] of allegedly 100.1 degrees Celsius hot steam with a probe(HP474AC) to determine the relative humidity in the air. The real question, however, deals with the distinction between [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vapor water vapor] and dry vapor.

Swedish physicist Peter Ekström of Lund University presented calculations based on Krivit's video and came to a devastatingly negative result which can be read on the internet.<ref>http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion_krivit.pdf</ref> According to his calculations, a powerful jet of steam should have left the hose but that did not happen.

After Krivit's report had been published, inventor Andrea Rossi responded very irritated and obviously angry with the visitor invited by him, the "Clown" Krivit, whom he also called a "snake".<ref>June 17th, 2011 at 3:10 PM Dear Maryyugo: We have already made enough public tests, either heating the water ( please go to read all our reports and papers on the Journal Of Nuclear Physics, or making steam. In this last case we always made the measurement of unvaporized water residue giving the result in mass. Our tests have been made with Professors of Physics working with the Universities of Bologna, Uppsala, Stockolm, with CERN, with INFN, and I think that only an imbecile can think that such Persons are not able to weight water in steam. We are receiving suggestions how to measure the water in steam, and this is like teach to a cat how to miew. By the way: the steam from the reactors which we are testing now, and that will compound the 1 MW plant, is dry. The steam during the interview of the clown of yesterday was totally dry. Of course, should be this not true, our Customers will be very angry: in that case, that will be an opinion which will be very important for us, while the opinion of our competitors and of their friends, for obvious reasons, have not much importance for us, if any. Now I have to make my 1 MW plant, then we will make other 1 MW plants for our Customers. That’s all we will do. Our Customers tests are the sole tests that count, for us. Therefore, I have absolutely not time for competitors anxious to test my Cat to make their “validation”. About the work that we will make with the University of Bologna and Uppsala, this will not be a public demo, but a work of Research and Development, made closed doors. Warm Regards, A.R.</ref> According to Rossi, the vistior had "understood nothing" and written a "ridiculous" report. He also accused Krivit of having been "sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work". Furthermore, he had tried to blackmail physicist Levi who has already given this to his attorney:

:''..Probably this journalist has been sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work. He also tried to blackmail prof. Levi, and Levi already has given to his attorney due. information..''<ref>Dear Craig: Mr Krivit has understood nothing of what he saw, from what I have read in his ridiculous report… This guy has seen for half an hour an E-Cat in the factory where we make many tests, made some questions to Prof. Levi, Prof. Focardi and me. Evidently has understood nothing, perhaps for the short time we gave him, also because we have to work. Prof. Levi has explained very well to him how the measures have been made and the importance of the issue. He has explained very well that the percentage of uncondensed water in the steam has been measured in weight (in volume is impossible, for various reasons), and he also got confirmation of this from a specialist from whom he has taken indipendent counsel. Nevertheless, he has understood nothing, or wanted not to understand, for reasons he better knows. Our tests have been performed by Physics Professors, who know how to make measures , and I am measuring the performance every day on 300 reactors. In any case we will start our 1 MW plant in october and we will see how it works. Of course I assure his considerations are invalid, but I want to say more: our products on the market will confirm this. Probably this journalist has been sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work. He also tried to blackmail prof. Levi, and Levi already has given to his attorney due. information . Warm Regards, A.R. 17 giugno 2011 11:48</ref>

Physicist Levi responded with an open letter in clumsy English to Krivit, in which he accused him of not having understood his explanations. Also Krivit had not understood that the water content in the steam was measured as a ration of the masses involved.<ref>Dear Mr. Krivit

Carefully I have read your preliminary report on your travel to Bologna .
Your report Clearly Demonstrates That You have not understood anything of what you have and what we have seen you Explained.
First of all the story about the steam.
As the signature in my email says I got a PhD in Physics Years Ago.This Means That I have totally Understood the difference Between residual water in steam as fraction of the mass or volume.
As I have unsuccessfully tried to explain you:
1) The plots are showing you where you can find well known and Them in Any manual of physical chemistry.
When You apply the measure the quantity of steam present as% of VOLUME.

2) As I have told you many times, Dr. Galantini, the expert chemist That Was in charge, have done to measure as percent of MASS.

As Professor Zanchini has told you the Same Day We Met, one of the informations you have crutial omitted from your preliminary report, fraction of water in the steam, Measured by MASS as we have done, would reduce the amount of energy in a Measured linear way.

So our analysis and our calculation is correct.

Because you:
Part of You Had omitted information, insulted me (and my University) Trying to say that I'm not prepared in my field, tried (just tried) to scare me and put me under psychological pressure in order to know to Obtain undisclosed date,
I Will not Send You Any Other information.

Regards,
Dr. G. Levi</ref>

===Presentation on Juli 8,2011===
On Juli 8th a visitor named Julian Brown was allowed to see a working reactor in Bologna for a brief time. He reported about it in a blog called "ecatnews" and stated that Rossi was assuming a cooling water flow of 15 liters per hour.<ref>http://ecatnews.com/?p=489#comment-70</ref> He saw, however, the already known pump of LMI company and estimated a cooling water flow of only 3 liters/h himself.<ref>Julian Brown July 17, 2011 - 12:41 pm 
Rossi gave me a personal demonstration of a group of 4 e-cats working at his premises outside Bologna on Friday 8th. I saw essentially the same set up reported by Krivit in June.

I was there in the capacity of friendly off-the-record adviser re patenting issues.

Whilst I didn’t like the tone of Krivit’s June 16 report, I had arrived in Bologna full of optimism.

I am afraid that I now fully share Krivit’s opinion.

There are a number of reasons for this. Here are a few.

As has been pointed out numerous times on this blog, the dryness of the steam/water vapur is abolutely crucial to the viability of the e-cat.

Imagine my astonishment and disappointment on finding that Rossi makes no attempt to monitor the dryness of the output and there was no appropiate equipment visible on the premises.

It follows that Rossi can not possibly know whether he has 1,2 5 or even 10 percent unvaporized phase by weight. Passive observers like myself, Krivit, Essen & Kullander have even less chance of determining this crucial parameter.

Even worse, since the output tube went straight through a hole in the wall to be vented/flushed outside, it could have been pure hot water and nobody, least of all Rossi, could possibly know.

Basically, the whole set up defies even approximate quantitative calorimetric analysis.

Another odd thing was that Rossi pumped up the electrical power for a minute or two shortly before turning it off and allowing me to see that the water kept an output temperature of 100.5 for a couple of minutes.

This gave me the impression that it was a performance for my benefit and not the rigorous testing procedure that the technician sitting in front of the PC appeared to suggest.

The final clincher for me is that Rossi made a point of telling me that he was currently vaporizing 15 litres / hour.
BUT, the peristaltic pump was exactly the same one he uses in all demonstrations and it was pulsing about once every 2.5 seconds.
I make that 3 litres / hour, only 20 percent of what Rossi told me verbally.

And yet this small flow was being shared amongst 4 e-cat modules. That isnt much of a stress test is it ?

The small chimney will result in a small overpressure and a boiling temperature > 100 Celsius, so I am not impressed by 100.5 Celsius

I must admit that I didnt reach these dismal conclusion on the day. It took about 3 days of pondering what I had seen before all the pieces of the puzzle dropped into place.

It may be this explains why Rossi has been able to convince so many qualified people.
You dont want to believe it is just a gross and extremely simple circus trick.

He certainly has a charming manner; I liked him and would never suggest he has criminal intent. My hunch is that he did make a discovery that goes beyond the level acheived by Piantelli and Focardi, but that he got too enthusiastic too soon, before he had really done due diligence. He is now trapped in the web of commitments and claims he has made. A tragic figure really.

PS I was in experimental atomic physics research at Oxford from 1981-1989 and have since that time been an employee of the European Patent Office.</ref>

===Presentation on September 7,2011===
On September 7th 2011 a further test was attended by Mats Lewan of Ny Teknik. A newer, bigger model of the E-cat, with measurements of 50 x 60 x 30 centimeters and a weight of 80 kg (without water) was used. This model is said to be used in a 1 Megawatt plant in USA. The E-Cat was preheated for 90 minutes with 2.6 kilowatt electrical energy. Then it run without external energy supply for 35 minutes. Again, steam quality was not measured. The temperature inside of the E-cat was specified as 130 degrees but it remains unclear if this was steam temperature. Pressure uf one atmosphere was assumed.<ref>[http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3264362.ece See the E-cat run in self-sustained mode], Mats Lewan, Ny Teknik, September 14, 2011</ref> At drainage a steady flow of water can be seen, Mats Lewan report mentions 5.0 to 6.5 kg/hour. Considering these assumptions Mats Lewan estimates the output to 3.5 to 8 kilowatt.<ref>[http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3264365.ece/BINARY/Report+E-cat+test+September+7+%28pdf%29 Test of Energy Catalyzer], Report by Mats Lewan</ref>

Critics observe, that again steam quality was not measured. In contradiction to previous contrary claims it was obvious in this test that the steam was not dry and that several litres went down the drainage. The calculations of Mats Lewan are based on several assumptions that were not measured. If the drainage was smaller than the intake, pressure might have been far higher which would explain the rising temperature after deactivation of the heater. Raising the pressure would lead to a further increase in temperature.<ref>[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/09/15/collected-comments-on-sept-7-afternoon-rossi-test/ Collected Comments on Sept. 7 Afternoon Rossi Test], Steven B. Krivit, September 15, 2011</ref>

===Presentation on October 6,2011===
The test on October 6th 2011 was again attended by Mats Lewan and other scientists. Again, the new E-cat model was used, this time it measured 50 x 60 x 35 centimeters and weighted 98 kg.

According to Lewan the alleged reactor was heated for 4 hours with 2.7 kilowatt (38,88 Megajoule), then it ran for 3.5 hours "selfsustained" and produced 2.5 kilowatt output (31.5 Megajoule). During this "selfsustained" phase of 3.5 hours further 115 watt were fed into it(1.44 Megajoule).<ref>[www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3284962.ece/BINARY/Test+of+E-cat+October+6+%28pdf%29 Test of Energy Catalyzer], Mats Lewan, Bologna, October 6, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3284823.ece New test of the E-cat enhances proof of heat], Mats Lewan, Ny Teknik am October 7, 2011</ref>

Mats Lewan states explicitly that he did not measure the net energy, just the gross energy production in the 3.5 hours. A possible energy drain during the heating phase was not measured and can be considered irrelevant.<ref>[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/10/10/rossis-11th-test-11th-failure/ Rossi’s 11th Test, 11th Failure], Steven B. Krivit, October 11, 2011</ref>

Stephen Krivit criticizes, that the energy that was supploed during the test run was disregarded in the calculation. In sum, an energy loss of (38,88 + 1,44 - 31,5 = 8,82) 8.82 Megajoule, a result, equivalent to a water boiler with 78% efficiency can be seen.<ref>[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/10/08/e-cat-test-demonstrates-energy-loss/ E-Cat Test Demonstrates Energy Loss], Steven B. Krivit, October 8, 2011</ref>

In the report a device that produces "frequencies" is mentioned to be activated at the start of the test. Such a device was not mentioned in previous tests. Rossi stated later, that this "frequency generator is the mysterious secret "catalyst".<ref>[http://mnispel.net/neengineer/?p=229 Rossi e-cat – Oct 6 significant test], Dr. Mark D. Nispel | October 7, 2011</ref>

===Attempts to replicate the experiments===
*In 1996, a group led by Antonino Zichichi in vain attempted to repeat the pre-Rossi Piantelli-experiment (identical in principle, except for the secret catalyst) at CERN in Geneva for one year. Authors mention established increases in temperature which, however, did not correspond to an increase in energy release:

:''The authors state, "We have found the [Piantelli-Focardi group’s] results to be consistent with our observations; namely we measured higher temperatures for the same input power when hydrogen is absorbed during a heating cycle. Nevertheless this temperature rise does not appear to correspond to an increase in heat production. We have added a temperature sensor to the container of the experiment. The temperature of the container follows the same temperature with input power curve irrespective of whether there is an anomalous absorption of hydrogen or not; therefore we have no evidence that this temperature increase corresponds to another source of heat. In conclusion, we have observed all the effects discovered by Focardi et al., but our results imply that there is no production of power associated with the absorption of hydrogen by nickel."''<ref>Cerron-Zeballos, E., Crotty, I., Hatzifotiadou, D., Lamas Valverde, J., Williams, M.C.S., and Zichichi, A., "''[http://www.newenergytimes.com/Library/1996Cerron-InvestigationOfAnomalous.pdf Investigation of Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems]''". Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 109A, p. 1645-1654, (1996).</ref>

*In 1998/1999, a further attempt to replicate the tests of the principle was carried out by scientists Luigi Nosenzo and Luigi Cattaneo in Pavia (Italy). Again, no fusion reaction or release of energy could be established over the course of several months.<ref>Adalberto Piazzoli. "[http://www.cicap.org/new/articolo.php?id=273588 ''Fusione Fredda? Una ricerca italiana'']". CICAP - Scienza & Paranormale N. 78 (Mai 2008)</ref>

*In May 2011, US physicist Brian Ahern reported tests with a finely ground zirconium-nickel-copper alloy to which he added hydrogen gas after heating it to 500 degrees. A small rise in heat in addition to the supplied electrical heating power was observed and estimated at about 5-10 watts. A publication of the experiment is not known. Ahern's claims were only published in various blogs. Ahern has been known for a long-standing supporter of "cold fusion" which he attempts to use with a company he founded, Vibronic Energy Technologies Corp. <ref>http://www.neny.org/download.cfm/Vibronic_Energy_Technologies_Corp.pdf?AssetID=1169</ref><ref>http://www.scribd.com/doc/39076066/Vibronic-Energy-Technologies</ref><ref>From: Brian Ahern, Boxborough MA</ref>

* A group of researchers ([[Giuseppe Levi]], [[Evelyn Foschi]], [[Bo Höistad]], [[Roland Pettersson]], [[Lars Tegnér]] and [[Hanno Essén]]) claims to have repeated the experiment successfully in March 2014. Apparently, no ionizing radiation was detected.<ref>http://www.sifferkoll.se/sifferkoll/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/LuganoReportSubmit.pdf</ref>

Re:

Zr-Ni-Cu alloy performance Ames National Laboratory processed metal alloy foils via arc melting followed by melt spinning. This is the Yamaura process employed by Arata and others. The foils were baked in ordinary air at 445C for 28 hours. The brittle, oxidized foils were placed in a tumble mill for 24 hours. This resulted in 30 grams of black powder with a median grain size of about 40 microns.Presumably, each grain has about one million nanoscale islands of NiCu inside. The 30 grams occupies about 7 ml inside the 50 ml dewar. The system was vacuum baked at 220C for 24 hours and cooled to room temperature. H2 gas was added at 200psi. The pressure dropped only to about 185 psi over twenty minutes. In these replication experiments the exothermic reactions have had peak temperatures above 220C with substantial loading above 3.0 H/M ratios. This time the temperature only rose by 2 degrees C. The system was heated with a band heater to high temperature. There was no controller. A rheostat was set at an arbitrary position and the system comes to a an arbitrary temperature.The average power input was 90 watts. After several hours the hydrated system was evacuated overnight at a constant high temperature at 530C. The next day H2 gas was again added at 100psi and the temperature rose by 40C to 570C and came back down to 530C after two hours. At the end of the day the dewar was again evacuated while still at 530C overnight. The third day repeated the same procedure. H2 gas was added at 100psi and the temperature rose by 44C to 574C. However, this time it did not come back to the initial temperature. It remained at the elevated temperature overnight. On the fourth day H2 gas was again added at 100psi and the system rose by 50C to 580C and again stayed at the elevated temperature indefinitely. A rough calibration suggests that the 30 grams of hydrated nanopowder is putting out 5 watts of excess power. Yesterday Peter Gluck suggested that the relationship between loading and excess power may be a myth. This seemed to be true for electrolysis with Pd and heavy water where loading levels exceeding 0.9 D/M were a prerequisite for observing excess power. My loading level with this nanopowder sample as less than 0.1 H/M. This 5 watt excess is very much less than Rossi, but it is a real and repeatable experiment There was no radiation above the background level. Other alloys from Ames NL are expected within ten days.</ref>

==Inventor Andrea Rossi==
[[image:petroldragon4.jpg|Andrea Rossi at Petroldragon lawsuit (Source: newspaper L'Unita")|thumb]]
[[image:Kensington_university.jpg|Reimbursement offer of [[diploma mill]] "Kensington University Inc." to its customers|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_CV.jpg|Rossi CV on his website (March 4, 2011)|thumb]]
[[image:petroldragon3.jpg|View of a Petroldragon compound (Source: newspaper L'Unita")|left|thumb]]
[[image:petroldragon2.jpg|Andrea Rossi in front of Petroldragon reactor (Source: newspaper L'Unita")|thumb]]
[[image:petrol_dragon_airuno.jpg|Petrol Dragon premises at Airuno with tanks for used oil (Image: merate online [http://www.merateonline.it/articolo.php?idd=6256&origine=1])|left|thumb]]
Italian inventor Andrea Rossi was born on June 3, 1950 in Milano. In a curriculum vitae presenting his occupational history on his website<ref>http://ingandrearossi.com/gli-inizi/</ref> (see picture on the right dated March 4, 2011), Rossi specifies he graduated in philosophy at the University of Milan and mentions a second "Laurea" title (common term for a final degree at an Italian university with an obligatory doctorate) in "Ingegneria Chimica" (chemical engineering) at a Californian "Kensington University Inc.". This company was officially registered in Hawaii, but operated from Glendale in California<ref>Kensington University, 520 E Broadway Suite 400, Glendale, CA 91205 </ref> and was a wellknown [[diploma mill]] until it was shut down on court orders.<ref>Article in "LA-Times": ''Kensington University Faces Closure Hearing''. April 23, 1996 | JOHN CHANDLER, TIMES STAFF WRITER. Kensington University has no classrooms, laboratories or dorms. Its students don't play football, join fraternities or linger dreamily on a quadrangle. In fact, the entire campus is housed in a small Glendale office building. Recruiting from across the nation, the school runs a program in which students studying entirely at home can earn anything from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate--all without ever attending a single class or even meeting their instructors face to face.</ref><ref>http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education</ref>. The company was sentenced to restitute all former customers (see picture to the left) after it had been reported to the law by a consumer protection organisation.<ref>http://hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp/udgi/lawsuits/kensington/kensington_u_dj.pdf</ref>

In March 2011, Andrea Rossi was confronted by a journalist who accused him of holding an engineering title from a diploma mill. Rossi replied this was an ''honorary title'' awarded to him for an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claimed he did not know anything about the company "Kensington University Inc.". He explained he had a regular title, ''Dottore Magistrale in Filosofia'', of Università degli Studi di Milano from December 10, 1975<ref>Contribution of user Matslewan on March 23, 2011 in English Wikipedia: ''As a journalist I have interviewed Rossi and he says that the title from Kensington University is an honorary title he gained because of an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claims he knows no more about this university.''</ref>

The "Rossi Energy Amplifier" is not the first invention made by Andrea Rossi. During the 1970ies and 1980ies, he tried to produce hydrocarbons from waste to no avail. This resulted in several law suits and criminal cases with prison sentences against the "Sheik of Brianza" (''Sceicco della Brianza'', sheik because he claimed to produce oil from industrial waste. Brianza is a region north of Milan). The law suits were also known as "Petroldragon affair", since Rossi's company was named "Petroldragon". Italian Wikipedia has an article on the affair: [http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroldragon Petroldragon]. Rossi was convicted because he did not dispose of large amounts (58,000 tons) of toxic waste in accordance with regulations, and for trafficking waste materials. According to an article in Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" of April 6, 1995, Rossi and one Michele Pizzato were arrested twice.<ref>FASANO GIUSI, "Corriere della Sera" vom 6. April 1995: 
Manette bis per Andrea Rossi La Procura di Ariano Irpino accusa l’ inventore del ” refluo petrolio ” di riciclaggio di denaro sporco. Ricercato il corriere della banda che avrebbe trasferito con furgoni blindati oltre 2 tonnellate d’ oro 
MONZA. Se finora ha creduto di essere nei guai si e’ sbagliato. Andrea Rossi, inventore del chiacchierato procedimento per trasformare in petrolio la spazzatura e i rifiuti industriali, e’ molto piu’ che in semplici guai. Di tutte le “tegole” che gli sono piovute addosso finora, la piu’ pesante e’ arrivata ieri dalla Procura di Ariano Irpino, in provincia di Avellino. Il giudice delle indagini preliminari Vincenzo Caputo ha emesso, su richiesta del sostituto Rosario Baglioni, un’ ordinanza di custodia cautelare contro di lui per associazione a delinquere finalizzata al riciclaggio di capitali di illecita provenienza e alla frode fiscale. La presunta organizzazione a delinquere sarebbe formata, oltre che dall’ ideatore del “refluo petrolio” e da una persona per ora irreperibile, anche da Michele Pizzato, italiano con residenza in Svizzera, uomo di fiducia di Andrea Rossi e, negli ultimi tempi, suo compagno di “sventura”. Una sventura cominciata un paio di settimane fa con le conclusioni di una inchiesta condotta dal sostituto procuratore monzese Salvatore Bellomo. Alla fine delle sue indagini, il pm monzese aveva chiesto e ottenuto l’ arresto sia di Rossi che di Pizzato per associazione a delinquere finalizzata alla falsa fatturazione e alla frode fiscale. L’ accusa riguardava la documentazione fittizia che i due avrebbero compilato per attestare la compravendita e l’ esportazione di decine di chili d’ oro, merce di cui Rossi si occupa da quasi due anni come titolare dell’ oreficeria “St. Andre’ ” di Milano (societa’ che lavora l’ oro a Luogosano, in provincia di Avellino). I due erano percio’ finiti in carcere, sperando che il castello di accuse crollasse dopo gli interrogatori. Errore. Perche’ i fatti contestati dal pm monzese hanno trovato conferma nell’ inchiesta del collega di Ariano Irpino, che da oltre un anno stava seguendo praticamente lo stesso filone d’ indagine e che adesso, nelle sue ipotesi d’ accusa, si spinge fino all’ associazione finalizzata al riciclaggio di denaro sporco. In un comunicato stampa diffuso ieri dal comando di gruppo della Guardia di Finanza di Avellino si parla in dettaglio della nuova ordinanza di custodia notificata in carcere a Rossi e Pizzato. Risulterebbe, com’ era gia’ noto dall’ inchiesta monzese, che 46 miliardi di lingotti d’ oro (ben 2.323 chili) avrebbero passato il confine italiano solo sulla carta e, inoltre, che l’ associazione a cui farebbe capo Rossi avrebbe evaso tributi per 120 miliardi con false esportazioni di congegni ad alta tecnologia. Il terzo uomo ricercato e’ il trasportatore dei lingotti, un personaggio abituato a muoversi su furgoni blindati. Sul trasferimento di fondi verso paradisi fiscali come il Liechtenstein, i finanzieri sostengono che “l’ articolazione dell’ organizzazione” era tale da far intuire che l’ obiettivo fosse anche anche il riciclaggio di denaro sporco. 
E da Milano nuova incriminazione. Smaltimento clandestino di veleni 
MILANO. Petrolio dai rifiuti tossici? Macche’ , le 58 mila tonnellate di liquami industriali accumulate dalla Petrol Dragon nelle cisterne dell’ ex raffineria Omar di Lacchiarella erano e restano un cocktail di veleni assolutamente non riciclabile. Andrea Rossi, rappresentante legale dell’ azienda, e il liquidatore Alessandro Reale sono stati incriminati dalla Procura circondariale di Milano per stoccaggio e smaltimento abusivo di rifiuti tossico nocivi. La Regione ha gia’ deciso di costituirsi parte civile, anche per ottenere i 50 60 miliardi necessari alla bonifica. L’ inchiesta era stata avviata il 14 dicembre ‘ 93 dopo il sequestro, da parte del Corpo forestale dello Stato, di un’ autocisterna proveniente dal deposito Petrol Dragon di Piossasco (Torino), sorpresa a scaricare nei serbatoi di Lacchiarella 10 tonnellate di liquami con altissime percentuali di Pcb (policlorobifenile), una sostanza tossica e sospetta cancerogena. Fasano Giusi. [http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/aprile/06/Manette_bis_per_Andrea_Rossi_co_0_9504062501.shtml]</ref> As a member of a "gang" and "criminal organisation" he is said to have smuggled two tons of gold in a money laundering operation. Newspaper articles from that time (in Italian): <ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/giugno/01/cella_mago_del_petrolio__co_2_000601164.shtml</ref><ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/marzo/09/petrolio_dai_rifiuti_inservibile_tossico_co_0_94030910061.shtml</ref><ref>http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/07/26/storia-di-rifiuti-tossici-miliardi-supertruffe.html</ref><ref>http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/09/11/cosi-arricchiscono-pirati-dei-rifiuti.html</ref><ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/ottobre/20/Condannato_otto_anni_mago_del_co_2_0010202627.shtml</ref><ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2004/novembre/27/Riciclaggio_rifiuti_tossici_Assolto_Andrea_co_7_041127020.shtml</ref>

Rossi, however, perceived this as a repression of his allegedly ecological conversion technology. He migrated to USA after a series of criminal proceedings. Current business interests (EON srl and EFA srl) are handled by his wife Maddalena Pascucci. 

==Involved companies==

===EON Srl and Leonardo Corporation===
[[image:Leonardo_Miami2.jpg|Apartment-house at the address of "Leonardo Corp." (1331, Lincoln rd Miami Beach, App. 505). Image: Google street view|left|300px|thumb]]
[[image:Leonardo_Miami.jpg|Registration of "Leonardo Corp." in Miami Beach|thumb]]
[[image:Leonardo_Miami4.jpg|Registration page 2|thumb]]
The company EON Srl (owned by Rossi), which is often mentioned in connection with the subject, is registered both in Bondeno<ref>Eon S.r.l., V. C.ragazzi 18, I-44012 Bondeno</ref> and in Rome<ref>EON Srl, Via Ottaviano 66, Roma</ref> . The Bodeno location is said to have been heated by an "E-cat" device virtually for free for a long time. Rossi further claims he is also producing hot water in his home with an E-cat. There is no independent evidence for both claims.

In the course of 2011, inventors and undisclosed non-Italian investors (allegedly Greek) plan to offer ready-made reactors for industrial application under the marketing name "Hyperion" (not to confuse with a concept for small fission reactors of the same name in the USA). There is an official permission dating from 2006 which enables Italian EON Srl to operate a small power plant, fuelled by bio diesel, producing electric power up to 1 megawatt in the town of Bondero. Inventors also claim to currently work on a small power plant which combines 120 interconnected energy-amplifier reactors of equal electric power of 1,000 kWs either in Greece or in USA, which is supposed to be finished by October 2011 and will cost 2 million dollar. Greek company „Defkalion Green Technologies S.A.“ is mentioned as manufacterers.

There is a ''Leonardo Corporation''<ref>Leonardo Corporation, 116 South River Road, Bedford, N.H. 03110 - USA. Website: http://leonardocorp1996.com</ref> located in Bedford, New Hampshire, USA owned by Rossi which is listed as contact address for EON. Their e-mail address is identical with that of EON Srl in Italy. The phone number is a collective number applying to several companies located at the same address which is a so called "business park". This company and Greek Defkalion are supposed to build the future "reactors". It currently offers electric generators fuelled by bio diesel (with turbo chargers and intercooling). The company claims a high degree of efficiency due to its patented "EON" technology which was able to recover incurred thermal losses. In a business entry from 2012 an address in New Boston is mentioned for Leonardo Corporation.<ref>Leonardo Corporation, 8 Town Farm Rd, New Boston NH 03070 [https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?414253]</ref>

Leonardo Corp. is registered in Miami (Florida), too, in an appartment in a block situated in a residential area. The telephone number (603) 4875192, however, belongs to an extension in New Hampshire.
It is somewhat hard to imagine that production of a Rossi Energy Catalyzer was possible at any of these addresses, let alone building a 1 MW power plant.

In June 2011, U.S. attorney David Niebauer from San Francisco added an entry to his blog, reporting he had met with Rossi. Rossi explained he was still looking for a partner to realize a 1 MW small power plant in the United States. He claimed to have offered a demonstration to NASA, but only if they agree to purchase an operating plant once his device obtained the expected efficiency.<ref>Rossi Energy Catalyzer, "The New Fire"? Posted on June 10, 2011 by David Niebauer by David Niebauer I have just finished listening to an astounding podcast of an interview with Dennis Bushnell, Chief Scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, talking about low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) and devices that are apparently generating significant energy in the form of heat, with very little input of raw material and no radioactive waste. Bushnell makes reference to Andrea Rossi, an Italian inventor who claims to have discovered a previously unknown source of energy by combining pressurized nickel powder with hydrogen and a catalyst. Rossi has filed for international patent protection, but he is guarding the precise mechanism as a trade secret until the patent issues. I first heard of Andrea Rossi in January of this year on the site Next Big Future where it was reported that Rossi had demonstrated his Energy Catalyzer (or E-Cat, for short) in Bologna, monitored by independent scientific representatives of Bologna University. Ny Teknik, a Swedish technology magazine, reported that, “For about an hour it produced approximately 10 kilowatts of net power, loaded with one gram of nickel powder pressurized with hydrogen. See Wikipedia entry for background. Since that time Rossi has repeatedly demonstrated the device and it has received validation from the Swedish Skeptics Society, among others. Demonstration devices have now also been delivered to the University of Bologna, the University of Uppsala and the University of Stockholm for extended testing. According to Bushnell, what is occurring in the Rossi device is a nuclear reaction, but it’s not a cold fusion. He claims it is a reaction of the Weak Nuclear Force. Bushnell believes that heat is generated from beta decay of subatomic particles and that, applying quantum theory, physicists will soon be able to explain the mechanism. The physics is not well understood, which is fueling a certain amount of skepticism. I recently met with Andrea Rossi and find him to be genuine and credible. Rossi told me that he would like to have a 1MW plant operating in the US by October of this year. He is looking for the right partners to help him enter the market in the United States. According to Rossi, Bushnell is on the wrong track, at least from a theoretical perspective. “If beta decay explained the reactions in my device, I would have been killed already [by the radiation] and we would have found different isotopes,” Rossi told me. He claims that he has a good handle on the theory, but he won’t disclose it until his patent is granted. Bushnell states that NASA is just now finishing a testing lab designed for the specific purpose of investigating LENR. With Rossi making news since early this year that he has built an operating LENR, I hear Bushnell making a pitch to have it tested and validated by NASA. According to Rossi, he will do a demonstration for NASA only if they agree to purchase an operating plant once his device obtains the expected efficiency. Rossi is intent on moving his Energy Catalyzer from the testing lab into the field. I don’t pretend to understand the physics, or to be in a position to know for certain whether the Rossi Energy Catalyzer is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. I will therefore let Dennis Bushnell have the final word for now: “I think we are almost over the “we do not understand it” problem. I think we are almost over the “this does not produce anything useful” problem. I think this will go forward fairly rapidly now. If it does, this is capable of, by itself, completely changing geo-economics, geo-politics, and solving climate issues.” David Niebauer is a corporate and transaction attorney, located in San Francisco, whose practice is focused on financing transactions, M&A and cleantech. www.davidniebauer.com</ref>

===EFA srl===
Italian company EFA srl, based in Bologna<ref>EFA srl, Via Marsili 4, I-40100 Bologna</ref>, is a company of limited liability and run by Rossi's wife Maddalena Pascucci who holds 70% of its shares. A minority stake is held by a business consultant by the name of Giuliano Guandalini who had previous business connections to Rossi. EFA also owns distribution rights for Europe and is a contractual partner both for Bologna University (as of June 2011, the contract was not signed) and Defkalion.

The same premises housing EFA – Via Marsili 4, Bologna – are also residence of a company Systems GM 2000th (Giuliano Guandalini) owning the rooms in which Rossi happens to conduct his experiments.

===Leonardo Technologies Inc.===
[[image:LTI.jpg|Thermoelectric miracle device of LTI|thumb]]
Leonardo Technologies Inc. (LTI) is another company registered in USA co-founded by Rossi<ref>LEONARDO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 116 S River RD, BEDFORD, NH 031106734</ref>. However, he sold it at the end of the 1990s. LTI in Manchester (NH/USA) tried to develop thermoelectric modules with miraculous degrees of efficiency. Such elements work due to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect thermoelectric effects] (see also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling thermoelectric cooling], enabling them to convert temperature differences to electrical voltage. Voltage is very low but through serial circuits higher voltage can be achieved. Efficiency is known to be very low. It ranges between 2 and 4 percent and useful applications are limited to special needs ("plutonium cells", satellite supply without sun collectors). Such converters would be of commercial interest only if efficiencies beyond 15% were achieved. LIT claimed it was able to realize thermoelectric modules (TE-devices) with a 20% efficiency. They further claimed they were able to build big converters with a capacity of several kilowatts. A collaboration with the university of New Hampshire was agreed upon. A device with 1 A and 100 volt (100 watt) was presented. Rossi later continued his research in Italy. The American Department of Defense showed some interest, had the company CTC (in Johnstown, PA) test several devices of LIT and released a test protocol<ref>http://dodfuelcell.cecer.army.mil/library_items/Thermo(2004).pdf</ref>. The modules did not prove to be very reliable Out of 27 devices, only eight worked at all. Instead of 800 to 1,000 watt claimed, they only produced 1  Watt of power. Further problems were thermal expansion and contact issues. Other modules sent later did not produce more power than regular devices commercially available.

On the website leonardo-ecat.com a personnel list was published in November 2011: (now deleted) ''Personnel Ing. Andrea A. Rossi, Inventor Prof. Sergio Focardi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. Giuseppe Levi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. Stremmenos Christos (Athen University – Greece) Prof. Alberto Carnera (INFM – University of Padova – Italy) Prof. Pierluca Rossi (University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. Luciana Malferrari (University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. George Kelly (University of New Hampshire – USA) Sterling D. Allan, Advisor, webmaster Hank Mills, Web content''<ref>http://www.leonardo-ecat.com/fp/About/Personnel/index.html</ref>

===AmpEnergo===
[[image:Coldstream_Park_Office_Park.jpg|Coldstream Park Office Park (Image: NAI Norwood Group, Bedford NH [http://www.nainorwoodgroup.com/propdocs/116%20South%20River%20Road%20Building%20A.pdf])|300px|thumb]]
US startup company AmpEnergo Inc., founded on April 20, 2009 in Bedford, New Hampshire<ref>AmpenErgo Inc., 116-G South River Road, Bedford NH 03110</ref><ref>President: Karl Norwood, founders and main shareholders: Karl Norwood (NAI Norwood Group, Inc.), Richard Noceti (LTI-global.com), Robert Gentile and Craig Cassarino. Minority shareholder: Ronald Engleman</ref> (Website: [http://ampenergo.com/]) signed a contract with inventor Andrea Rossi in March 2011. While "Leonardo Corp." is to build the energy catalyzers, marketing is planned to be done through AmpEnergo. According to Swedish journal Nyteknik, Rossi received a fincancial grant from this company.<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3179019.ece</ref> According to information from the press, AmpEnergo is currently looking for inventors.
The address of AmpEnergo is "Coldstream Park Office Park" owned by real estate company NAI Norwood<ref>http://www.nainorwoodgroup.com/propdocs/116%20South%20River%20Road%20Building%20A.pdf</ref>. According to owners, the building is heated with an electrically operated heat pump. The address is identical with that of real estate company NAI Norwood Group and of Norwood Management Karl Norwood Inc., owned by real estate agent Karl Norwood.<ref>NORWOOD MANAGEMENT KARL NORWOOD INC, 116 S RIVER RD UNIT A, Bedford, New Hampshire 03110</ref><ref>NAI Norwood Group, Inc., 116 South River Road, Bedford NH 03110</ref> and also of Leonardo Corp. and Leonardo Technologies Inc.<ref>LEONARDO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 116 S River RD, BEDFORD, NH 031106734</ref> owned by Andrea Rossi. The phone numbers of all those companies are identical too ( (603) 668 7000). Despite having been founded in 2009 already , no phone number is known for AmpEnergo Inc. The company is not registered in any phone book or yellow pages in the USA. (as of May 2011)

===Defkalion Green Technologies===
[[image:defkalion_logo.jpg|left|thumb]]
[[image:defkalion4.jpg|Defkalion Management|thumb]]
[[image:defkalion2.jpg|Alexandros Xanthoulis (born 1954), vice president. Xanthoulis also represents Cypriot PRAXEN Defkalion Green Technologies Ltd.|left|thumb]]
[[image:defkalion3.jpg|David Christian Aurel (born 1969), Managing Director. Aurel is also CEO of Invest Bank Montenegro|thumb]]
[[image:Defkalion_PK3.jpg|Inventor Rossi with Hauard Chen of "China Research Center for Public Policy"|thumb]]
[[image:Defkalion_science.jpg|Citation: ''The science behind the Ecat increases the probability of particles overcoming the electrostatic potential Coulom barriers in order to penetrate the nucleus by the quantum mechanical tunneling effect, yielding in an exothermic reaction between Hydrigen and Nickel. By decreasing the surface upon which a given amount of pressure is exerted, the odds for the tunneling effect to occur are increased, allowing für higher penetrability of the Coulomb barrier.'' (Website Defkalion 24.06.2011)|thumb]]
There is a small startup company in Athens named "Defkalion Energy" resp. "Defkalion Green Technologies S.A."<ref>http://www.defkalion-energy.com/</ref><ref>http://newenergytimes.com/v2/sr/RossiECat/docs/DefkalionBoardRegistration.pdf</ref> (named after [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deucalion Deucalion], son of Prometheus in Greek mythology), owned by various investors who, according to Rossi, shall produce some of the energy catalyzers. However, at the end of July 2011 it came to a dispute and to the end of the collaboration. Rossi announced that he would sue Defkalion.

The owners of Defkalion are unknown, but are accordng to Defkalion mostly Greeks with current residence in Canada (64% shareholders) and from Middle Eastern countries Defkalion's major shareholder is a PRAXEN Ltd. based in Limassol (Cyprus).

<ref>The following people are known from the management of Green Technologies: 
*Sortikos George (born 1942) president. (Architect, previous president of "Ω Βank", and owner of Oxymachon company)
*Alexandros Xanthoulis (born 1954), vice president. Xanthoulis also represents the Cypriot PRAXEN Defkalion Green Technologies Ltd.
*Christos Stremmenos (born 1932), vice president (former professor at Bologna University and former Greek ambassador in Italy)
*George Xanthoulis (born 1987), son of Alexandros Xanthoulis
*David Christian Aurel (born 1969), Managing Director. Aurel also is a CEO of Invest Bank Montenegro.
*John Chadjichristos (born 1958), corporate consultant
*Andreas Meidanis (born 1953), industrialist
*Muafak Sauachni (born 1961), medical doctor from Israel
*Andreas Drugas (born 1945), corporate consultant
*Symeon Tsalikoglou, press spokesman</ref>

Cyprus-based PRAXEN Ltd., connected to Defkalion vice-president Alexandros Xanthoulis, is in a position to keep its shareholders anonymous according to Cypriot law. Andrea Rossi's wife Maddalena Pascucci seems to focus on controlling the commercial aspects of the business in energy catalyzers. She is a director of Italian EFA srl which has business connections to PRAXEN Defkalion Green Technologies Ltd. <ref>Praxen Defkalion Green Technologies (Global) Ltd., is based in Cyprus; it owns the contract signed with the inventor regarding the industrial secret with right of first refusal to sell globally except the US. (Specified on Defkalion-Website, 24.6.2011)</ref>

While Rossi's "Leonardo Corp." will handle business in USA, Greek company Defkalion was said to hold the license for sales in Greece and the Balkans and was probably to be in charge of worldwide business(except USA). In August 2011 Rossi announced that Defkalion has no rights to his inventions anymore. According to Greek journal "Investor's World", premises of a former factory in the town of Xanthi have been bought, on which a 1 MW-small power station equipped with Rossi's energy catalyzers is supposed to be built; these premises will manufacture energy catalyzers in future. A total of three plants is to be built in Xanthi. The same source claims that Defkalion must be regarded a "200 million Euro investment". Half of the investment money (about 100 millions) is said to go to inventor Rossi later.<ref name="talefta" /><ref name ="scan" /><ref name="Investors World Article" /> According to Rossi he will start with the production of his E-cat devices, even if the filed patent won't be granted. He also wants to continue production even if competitors understand his invention through reverse-engeneering.<ref>From a chat conversation at Nyeteknik on March 12, 2011</ref> According to press information, Defkalion intends to begin producing E-cats in 2012, at an annual production of 300,000 devices. During the first year, however, only 40,000 units were to be produced. Between 125 and 200 new jobs were to be created in Xanthi. It was claimed in June 2011 that the investment sum was 300-400 million euro.<ref>Citation: ..''Presented on Thursday, finally, officially, the energy investment project of the Greek company Defkalion Green Technologies SA on the industrial application of scientific discovery of the famous "cold fusion nickel and hydrogen" Italian professors Sergio Foccardi and Andrea Rossi has created great interest internationally''....''Investing a total budget of 300 to 400 million, includes three industrial units, which will settle in Thrace''.. Source: Article "Investing 400 million in Xanthi for "cold fusion" of hydrogen", in "Energy Press", 23.6.2011</ref>

The business model of Defkalion allows long-time leasing of "E-Cat" devices to private clients. A 10 kW or 20 kW facility (information is ambiguous) is said to cost 1,300 Euro per year, including operational costs and "fuel replacement", handled by manufacturers through replacing the device.

At a press conference on June 23, 2011<ref>Panel Speakers:
Andrea Rossi
Professor Christos Stremmenos
Alexandros Xanthoulis as representative of the investors

Media Participation:
Greek national television channels
Skai / ANT1 / NET
Greek radio stations
Skai / ERT
Greek print media
Real News / O Kosmos tou Ependiti / Kerdos / Xanthi Press / H Gnomi / Axia / Makedonia
Italian media
Rai24 / Rai1 / independent online journalists
Swedish media
E-Cat report / Independent online journalists
International press
European Press Agency / Associated Press
Environmental agencies

Public Figures:
Hellenic Ministry of Regional Development (Industry & Energy)
Alternate Minister, Socratis Xinidis
Federal German Green Party
Member of the Executive Board, Rene Ramminger
Municipality of Palaio Faliro
Mayor, Dionysis Hatzidakis
Municipality of Athens, Sport & Youth
Deputy Mayor, Toula Psaraki
Greek Technical Chamber of Commerce
Chairman, Christos Spirtzis
Union of Greek Chambers of Commerce
Chairman, George Kassimatis
Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce
President, Yanos Gramatidis
LARCO (Nickel company of Greece)
CEO, Anastasios Barakos
Federation of Industries of Northern Greece
representative
Professors and scientists from numerous universities in Greece and abroad
International visitors: Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Italy, Germany, Sweden, UK, USA. [http://www.defkalion-energy.com/news_details_pconference]</ref> it was reported that contacts were established to a "China Research Center for Public Policy", whose representative Hauard Chen attented the press conference. Further attendees were politicians from the German Green Party as well as representatives of the Baden Wuerttemberg state government. These informations are established in several Greek newspapers.<ref>http://www.xanthipress.gr/eidiseis/politiki/8178-episimi-parousiasi-tiw-defcalion-.html</ref><ref>http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=de&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.xanthipress.gr%2Feidiseis%2Fpolitiki%2F8178-episimi-parousiasi-tiw-defcalion-.html</ref><ref>http://www.xronos.gr/detail.php?ID=69953</ref> As a single name one René Ramminger was mentioned, maybe speaker of Berlin "AG Soziales & Arbeit KV Tempelhof-Schöneberg" of "Bündnis90/Die Grünen"/Berlin.

While the website of EON Srl has been "under construction" for months now, the page of Defkalion offered since the press conference at the end of June a contact address in Athens.<ref>Defkalion Green Technologies S.A., Temporary Head Quarters - Mesogeion Avenue 2-4, Athens Tower, 18th Floor, GR-11527 Athens, Tel: +30 210 7770602, Fax: +30 210 7770608. Email: info@defkalion-energy.com. Domain registrant is one Andreas Meintanis from GR-19200 Elefsina.</ref>, later, in Juli 2011 an Address in Glifada was mentioned.<ref>Defkalion Head Office, Xanthou 3, Glifada, GR-16674 Greece. Tel: +30 210 7770602 - Fax: +30 210 7770608</ref> Furthermore future E-Cats with 5-30 kW are promoted on the website as "products" but no prices are available. A „Defkalion white paper“ was shown which states some details on Rossi-reactors. English observers found numerous mistakes and errors in used units of size (Examples:.. Power consumption: "0.5kw/hr", ‚"Series C Hyperion 20kW product can generate up to 157 Mw in one year of operation"..). This text disappeared immediately from the website. Defkalion stated the alleged functional principle as:
:"The science behind the Ecat increases the probability of particles overcoming the electrostatic potential Coulom barriers in order to penetrate the nucleus by the quantum mechanical tunneling effect, yielding in an exothermic reaction between Hydrigen and Nickel. By decreasing the surface upon which a given amount of pressure is exerted, the odds for the tunneling effect to occur are increased, allowing für higher penetrability of the Coulomb barrier.''

it was also declared by Defkalion that by "pressure increase" (apparently based on hydrogen) the output of the reactor could be controlled.

===Transaltec AG===
[[image:Andrea_Rossi_Adolf_Schneider.png|[[Adolf Schneider]] (right, [[Transaltec AG]]) with wife and Andrea Rossi. Picture: [http://www.borderlands.de/net_pdf/NET0911S4-15.pdf])|thumb]]
It became known end of 2011, that the swiss company [[TransAltec AG]] of [[Adolf Schneider]] tries to sell the E-cat.<ref>http://transaltec.ch/facma/design.php?design=2</ref>

===Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.===
[[image:Allan-Rossi.jpg|[[Sterling Allan]] (right, company [[Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.]]) and Ecat-inventor Andrea Rossi|thumb]]
The company [[Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.]] of [[Sterling Allan]] is also doing business with Andrea Rossi. According to "New Energy Times" owner Allan is a paid "sales agent" to market Rossis E-cat. It became also known that Allen is paid for publications and "news stories" about the E-cat. Allen is webmaster of the internet site of Leonardo Corporation in Bedford (New Hampshire/USA) since 2011.

==Funding and former Cooperation with Bologna University==
Rossi declares to have spent 500,000 Euro on experiments with more than 1,000 E-cat reactors, financed e.g. with earnings from his previous company Petroldragon which supplied him with revenues of as much as one million Euro. In an interview in Italian television on April 18, 2011, Rossi declared he had not received any pre-delivery payments or payments at all from customers. Rossi only meant to earn revenue or license fees when sales commenced. In contrast to that, it became known in May 2011 Rossi had already concluded a contract with the company AmpEnergo and payments had been made.

The University of Bologna had agreed to a collaboration, the Faculty of Physics should have received Euro 500,000 from Rossi in order to support development. According to other sources the faculty received as much as 1 million Euro. The research unit is said to consist of the following persons:
Ennio Bonetti, Enrico Campari, Loris Ferrari, Giuseppe Levi, and Mauro Villa. Physicist Giuseppe Levi is said to be heading these activities.<ref>''[...] Rossi is now paying the remaining 500,000 Euros to the Physics Department of Bologna University, following a new agreement under which the university will help Rossi with the continued development of the reactor and studies of its physical phenomena. According to the agreement, the work is led by the physicist Giuseppe Levi, who was the main observer when the "energy catalyzer" was demonstrated to invited scientists and media in Bologna in January 2011. Giuseppe Levi also carried out a longer test of the reactor in February, lasting 18 hours.''</ref>

Rossi means to donate part of the revenue for children suffering from cancer:

:''The 500,000 Euros I am paying to the University of Bologna is my last money, but when I deliver the one-megawatt plant to Defkalion I get cash back. From then on, 50% will be used for expansion and 50% to treat children with cancer. I will personally look for the children whose families cannot afford their care [...]''<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3122915.ece</ref>

In January 2012 it became known that the University of Bologna cancelled the planned agreement since Rossi did not pay the agreed sums to the university.<ref>Email Prof. Dario Braga/UniBo: ''I can confirm that to the best of my knowledge the contract between the dept of physics and the EFA company has been cancelled because unfulfilled at the agreed deadline and that there is no further relationship between the company and the university based on that contract. Regards Dario Braga Professor Dario Braga University of Bologna''</ref><ref>E-CAT: DICHIARAZIONE DEL DIPARTIMENTO DI FISICA DELL’UNIVERSITA’ DI BOLOGNA Bologna, 25 gennaio 2012 – Il Dipartimento di Fisica dell’Università di Bologna dichiara che il contratto sottoscritto nel giugno 2011 tra il Dipartimento di Fisica e la EFA srl (la società italiana di proprietà di Andrea Rossi) è stato rescisso causa il mancato soddisfacimento delle condizioni al termine contrattuale previsto. Non c’è più alcun rapporto tra il Dipartimento e la EFA srl legato a questo contratto. Tuttavia, il Dipartimento di Fisica si è reso disponibile con la sua esperienza e le sue strumentazioni per svolgere autonome misurazioni sulla produzione di calore da parte dell’apparecchiatura denominata e-cat al fine di fornire una risposta all’intera comunità scientifica e all’opinione pubblica in merito al fenomeno. I risultati delle misure saranno pubblicati.</ref><ref>http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2012/01/24/university-of-bologna-terminates-relationship-with-rossi/</ref>

==Journal of Nuclear Physics==
[[image:JONP.jpg|left|thumb]]
[[image:JONP2.jpg|thumb]]
Rossi spreads claims about his inventions through his own Internet blog called "Journal of Nuclear Physics", which is claimed to be "peer-reviewed". From its subtitle „Nuclear experiments blog“, however, it is obvious this is no professional journal. "Journal of Nuclear Physics" used to be the title of a Russian professional journal, which was discontinued. An [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_Nuclear_Physics Article article in Wikipedia] lists all journals of this name.

The [http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/ website of the blog] lists a "Board of Advisers" which currently (April 2011) lists 8 names: Prof. Sergio Focardi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. Michael Melich (DOD – USA), Prof. Alberto Carnera (INFM – University of Padova – Italy), Prof. Pierluca Rossi (University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. Luciana Malferrari (University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. George Kelly (University of New Hampshire – USA), Prof. Stremmenos Christos (Bologna University – Italy) und Richard Noceti, Ph.D. (LTI-global.com).<ref>http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?page_id=2</ref> It is peculiar that several of the persons come from the circle of inventors. With some of these persons, it is not evident what may qualify them for questions of physics. George Kelly is apparently not working for the University of New Hampshire; it is unclear whether he exists in the first place. An American psychologist of the same name has already died. Michael Melich, who allegedly works for the "DOD" (U.S. Defense Department), received some attention due to weird statements. He claims to be working as kind of an undercover agent for a US secret service to whom he claims to report activities of the cold fusion scene. Guiseppe Levi, who was listed originally as an advisor, was deleted from the list at the end of January 2011 (see screenshots).

The blog also allows adding comments. But various person reported in the internet that only comments or questions not criticizing or doubting the "E-cat" will be published.

==Business competition==
In competition to the Rossi Ecat-reactor is a similar "energy reactor" of the Italian physicist Francesco Piantelli, who has founded a company "NichEnergy S.R.L." .<ref>NICHENERGY S.R.L., VIA MASSETANA ROMANA 50/A, I-53100 Siena</ref><ref>http://www.nichenergy.com ALESSANDRO MEIARINI, Via Belriguardo 128, I-53100 Siena</ref> To date (July 2011) no useful reputable publications for this project exist. According to vague details, which can be found in the Internet, inventor Piantelli claims an "energy multiplication" by a factor of 200. In contrast to the Rossi reactor no so called catalyst is said to be used.

==Patents and patent applications==
[[image:Rossi_Focardi_Patent.jpg|thumb|Drawing from patent application WO 2009/125444 von Rossi]]
Rossi has applied for a patent(WO 2009/125444 A1 EP 02259998 A1) for the method.<ref>WO 2009/125444 A1: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS. Applicant: Pascucci, Maddalena. Inventor: Rossi, Andrea. Date: 15.10.2009</ref><ref>EP 02259998 A1: VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR DURCHFÜHRUNG VON EXOTHERMEN REAKTIONEN ZWISCHEN NICKEL UND WASSERSTOFF. Applicant: Pascucci, Maddalena. Inventor: Rossi, Andrea. EP-Date: 15.12.2010</ref> The European Patent Office, as one of the International Searching Authorities of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), negatively assessed the patent specification. It criticized the invention was not presented comprehensively, and particularly that it was not evident the described reaction of nickel and hydrogen did in fact generate energy. To quote the report:
:''As the invention seems, at least at first, to offend against the generally accepted laws of physics and established theories, the disclosure should be detailed enough to prove to a skilled person conversant with mainstream science and technology that the invention is indeed feasible. [...] In the present case, the invention does not provide experimental evidence (nor any firm theoretical basis) which would enable the skilled person to assess the viability of the invention. The description is essentially based on general statement and speculations which are not apt to provide a clear and exhaustive technical teaching.''<ref>http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wads.jsp?IA=IT2008000532&LANGUAGE=EN&ID=id00000011868762&VOL=100&DOC=075642&WO=09/125444&WEEK=NA&TYPE=NA&DOC_TYPE=WOSA&TOK=Q309-A-eI6srxLYw7s9qWfbp73Y&PAGE=1</ref>

The Italian patent of the same content was granted in April 2011 with the number IT MI20080629 (''processo ed apparecchiatura per ottenere reazioni esotermiche, in particolare da nickel ed idrogeno.'').<ref>IT MI20080629 (A1), METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS. Publication date: 2009-10-10. Inventor(s): ROSSI ANDREA, Applicant(s): PASCUCCI MADDALENA.
Also published as: WO 2009125444 (A1), US 2011005506 (A1), EP 2259998 (A1)</ref><ref>http://www.uibm.gov.it/uibm/dati/stampa_elenco_info.aspx?load=info_stampMain&id=1610895&table=Invention</ref> The wording of the patent is not publically accessible and, due to reasons of secrecy, will be published at a later date.

Patent applications are required to allow experts to rebuild the described invention. Furthermore the "best method" to achieve the presented effect has to be described in the application. Rossi, however, keeps the nature of his "catalyzers" secret.

The WIPO website lists an answer of Rossi's patent attorney Cicogna dated December 17, 2010 in which he addressed the issues mentioned.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/application_rossi.004908.pdf</ref> In his answer to the Munich European patent agency, he drops 6 of formerly 15 claims. The correspondence also addresses a patent from 2005 (Yoshiaki Arata: (Juli 2005) ''Hydrogen condensate and method of generating heat therewith.'', EP1551032 [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP1551032.pdf]) held by Japanese professor emeritus Yoshiaki Arata who has been studying "cold fusion" since 1989. In his patent, Arata described methods to generate an "Arata Energy" with hydrogen isotopes which permeate finely ground metals (''metal nano-ultrafine particle ''; Arata mentions several metals, among them nickel) or alloys under energy consumption. This process is said to create a "condensate" with a decreased interatomic distance between hydrogen isotopes, explaining the emission of heat. A byproduct of the reaction was helium. According to Arata, there are several ways to apply energy: pressure, ultrasound, high electricity, laser light, magnetism, etc. Arata introduced his reactor, equipped with a Stirling engine, to the public in May 2008<ref>http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/28/28011/1.html</ref>, but explained that the principle could not be applied since helium generation "poisoned" the fusion process, so the fusion chamber had to be vented periodically, rendering any utilization uneconomical.

A patent application with the number US2011/005506 A1 was submitted by Rossi on September 16, 2010 in USA and released on January 13, 2011 by the patent office. The application does not mention cold fusion but a device to create an exothermic reaction with nickel and hydrogen. As of September 2011 no assessment of the U.S. patent office is known.<ref>[http://newenergytimes.com/v2/sr/RossiECat/docs/2011RossiUSPatentApp.pdf Method and Apparatus for carrying out nickel and hydrogen exothermal reaction], United States Patent Application Publication</ref>

Patents held by Francesco Piantelli:
* WO 95 20816 A1, Francesco Piantelli: ''Energy generation and Generator by means of anharmonic stimulated fusion''
* EP 0767962 B1 (1995), Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion. Patent''
* WO 2010058288 A1: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO, ''METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27.''
* DE69510056T2 Energieerzeugung Und Erzeuger Durch Oberwellenfreie Stimulierte Fusion, 03/02/2000
* patent application PI2011A000046 (Italy) from April 26, 2011: ''metodo e apparato per generare energia mediante reazioni nucleari di idrogeno adsorbito per cattura orbitale da una nanostruttura cristallina di un metallo''. (patent application ''Method and Apparatus for Generating Energy through Nuclear Reactions of Hydrogen Adsorbed by Orbital Capture to a Metal Crystalline Nanostructure''). Not public till October 27, 2012.

Further patents held by Andrea Rossi:
*US 2002/0046762 A1 "Thermoelectric generators", Inventor: Andrea Rossi. Filing date: Oct 4,2001<ref>http://www.google.com/patents?id=h9SMAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

A thermoelectric module including a couple formed between two bismuth telluride thermoelectrodes. The first thermoelectrode is doped with palladium, selenium, or a combination of the two. The second thermoelectrode is doped with antimony, gold, or a combination of the two. Multiple thermoelectric...
Inventor: Andrea Rossi</ref>
*WO0229908 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS (patent withdrawn). published on 03.03.2004. Applicant(s) Leonardo Technologies, Inc., 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110 / US. Inventor(s) ROSSI, Andrea, c/o Leonardi Technologies, Inc.<ref>https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP01986372</ref><ref>http://www.google.com/patents?id=AJSSAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref>
*US 6051110 ''Thermolytic distillation of carbonaceous material''
*U.S. Patent US6620994 B2 Andrea Rossi: "Thermoelectric generators" (16.9.2003)

==Reception, media coverage and criticism==
[[image:Mats_Lewan.jpg|Swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik)|thumb]]
A noteworthy reception by respective associations or universities never happened, an attempt by inventors to publish their principle in a professional magazine failed. As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Only a few physicists reacted with blog entries or comments to the topic.

Italian daily press covered the invention in a mere four articles (some of these in local sections). Additionally, a small private radio station made an interview. A Greek business journal and a private TV station covered it. „Nyeteknik“ reported in Sweden, some positive coverage was published in US "Washington Times", which belongs to the [[Moon-Cult]], in an article by Frank Perley.<ref>Frank Perley: ''PERLEY: [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/17/nuclear-future-beyond-japan/ Nuclear future beyond Japan - Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes]'', "The Washington Times", March 3, 2011.</ref>

The energy catalyzer was also covered in several blogs. The most lively interest could be observed in Italy and Sweden.

The most renowned person to comment favourably on the energy catalyzer so far has been English Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson has been known for a supporter of so called "cold fusion" for years and is the editor of the corresponding article in English Wikipedia.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Catalyzer</ref>

The most committed critic is probably Italian habilitated nuclear chemist Camillo Franchini. Another critic is the habilitated Swedish nuclear physicist Peter Ekström of Lund University. Ekström calls Rossi's invention a "hoax" and [[pseudoscience]]. He also compares it to claims made by Randell Mills for the last twenty years (BlackLightPower - see [[Hydrino]]). In his criticism, Ekström refers to the conditions necessary for fusion and nuclear transformations as well as the radiation emitted. A summary of his criticism can be found here: [http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion.pdf Peter Ekström: ''Kall Fusion på italienska'' (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English)]. Swedish professor for physics Kjell Aleklett from Uppsala University also criticized in his blog: [http://aleklett.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/rossi-energy-catalyst-a-big-hoax-or-new-physics/ Kjell Aleklett "Rossi energy catalyst – a big hoax or new physics?"]

Early 2012 Australian aerospace engineer Ian Bryce investigated the reports of the conducted tests 2012 and found, that the shown experiments can easily be conducted by misconnecting the wires of the three-core power lead: One just has to connect the earth lead to the active pin and connect the earth lead than to the heaters. It would bypass the metering instruments since it usually doesn't make sense to measure the earth lead. The extra power would suffice to explain the measured heating output.<ref name="AustralianSkeptics">[http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/news/dick-smith-slams-cold-fusion-claims/ “Cold fusion” tests misled scientists], Australian Skeptics, January 30, 2012</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Focardi-Rossi-Energiekatalysator|en=Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer|it=Catalizzatore di energia secondo Rossi e Focardi}}

==See also==
*[[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]]

==Literature==
[[image:Petrolio Dai Rifiuti.jpg|Luigi Bacialli, ''Petrolio dai Rifiuti'', SugarCo Edizioni (1979)|thumb]]
*[http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf Giuseppe Levi: "Report on heat production during preliminary tests on the Rossi “Ni-H” reactor", Univ. Bologna, Jan. 2011] (auch: [http://www.territorioscuola.com/download/Levi-Bianchini-and-Villa-Reports.pdf])
*E. CAMPARI, S. FOCARDI, V. GABBANI, V. MONTALBANO, F. PIANTELLI, S. VERONESI: "Overview of H_Ni systems: old experiments and new setup" 5TH ASTI WORKSHOP ON ANOMALIES IN HYDROGEN-DEUTERIUM LOADED METALS, ASTI, ITALY, 2004, XP002517911
*S. FOCARDI, V. GABBANI, V. MONTALBANO, F. PIANTELLI, S. VERONESI: "Evidence of Electromagnetic radiation from Ni-H Systems" 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONDENSED MATTER NUCLEAR SCIENCE 2004, MARSEILLE, FRANCE, 2004, XP002517912
*Focardi S., Habel R., and Piantelli F., "Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 107A, p. 163-167, (1994)
*Notoya, R. et al., "Tritium Generation and Large Excess Heat Evolution by Electrolysis in Light and Heavy Water-Potassium Carbonate Solutions With Nickel Electrodes," Fusion Technology, Vol. 26, p. 179, (Sept. 1994)
*Mengoli, G., Bernardini, M., Manducchi, C., and Zannoni, G., "Anomalous Heat Effects Correlated With Electrochemical Hydriding of Nickel," Il Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 20 D, p. 331-352, (1998)
*Battaglia, A., Daddi, L., Focardi, S., Gabbani, V., Montalbano, V., Piantelli, F., Sona, P.G., and nesi, S., "Neutron Emission in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 112 A p. 921-931, (Sept. 1999)
*S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, S. Veronesi. "Large excess heat production in Ni-H systems". Il Nuovo Cimento Vol. 111 A, N.11 pp. 1233, novembre 1998
*Cerron-Zeballos, E., Crotty, I., Hatzifotiadou, D., Lamas Valverde, J., Williams, M.C.S., and Zichichi, A., "Investigation of Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems". Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 109A, p. 1645-1654, (1996).
*Adalberto Piazzoli. "Fusione Fredda? Una ricerca italiana". CICAP - Scienza & Paranormale N. 78 (Mai 2008)
*[http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/ "Il ritorno della fusione fredda", Article in the journal "Query", 31.1.2011]
*[http://www.queryonline.it/2011/02/02/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-ci-risponde-levi "Il ritorno della fusione fredda: ci risponde Levi", Article in the journal "Query", 2.2.2011]
*Peter Ekström ''Kall fusion åter i hetluften'', fysikaktuellt nr 2, May 2011, page 24. [http://www.fysikersamfundet.se/Fysikaktuellt/2011_2.pdf Full Text (Swedish)]

===News articles===
*Sibylle Anderl: ''Ein Energiemärchen - Kernfusion mit Nickel und Wasserstoff? Das kalte Gebräu im "Rossi-Reaktor"'', FAZ, 20.7.2011 (addon "Natur und Wissenschaft", S. N1) [http://www.faz.net/artikel/C30950/kalte-fusion-ein-italienisches-energiemaerchen-30468569.html Artikel bei FAZ net]
*[http://www3.lastampa.it/fileadmin/media/settimanali/tuttoscienze/PDF/5.pdf Luigi Grassia: ''Misteri - serie di test a Bologna''. La Stampa, 11.5.2011 (Italian)]
*[http://www.iltempo.it/2011/05/10/1256276-energia_gratis_parla_italiano.shtml?refresh_ce Antonio Angeli: ''L'energia gratis parla italiano - Il sogno del «generatore magico» sembra realizzato. L'ha inventato un bolognese'', Il Tempo, May 10, 2011 (Italian)]
*Ilaria Venturi: ''Fusione nucleare a freddo - "A Bologna ci siamo riusciti", article in "La Repubblica" (local section Bologna) vom January 14, 2011. [http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/01/14/news/fusione_nucleare_a_freddo_a_bologna_ci_siamo_riusciti-11237521/]
*[http://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/bologna/cronaca/2011/01/13/441795-realizzato_fusione_fredda.shtml MARCO PIVATO: ''"Ho realizzato la fusione fredda" - Annuncio choc del fisico Focardi''. Article in "Il Resto del Carlino" (local section Bologna) on January 13, 2011]
*[http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-italian-scientists-cold-fusion-video.html Lisa Zyga: ''Italian scientists claim to have demonstrated cold fusion'', physorg, January 20, 2011]
*[http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/24/italian-scientists-claim-cold-fusion-breakthrough/#ixzz1HFDdqNuC Clay Dillow: ''Italian Scientists Claim (Dubious) Cold Fusion Breakthrough'', Fox News, January 24, 2011]
*Frank Perley: ''Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes'', "Washington Times" March 17, 2011.[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/17/nuclear-future-beyond-japan/ Nuclear future beyond Japan - Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes]
*Franco, Foresta Martin, "Siena scopre l' energia pulita Fusione fredda all' italiana?," Corriere Della Sera, February 19, 1994

==Weblinks==
*[http://www.ingandrearossi.com Homepage of Andrea Rossi]
*[http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com "Journal of Nuclear Physics"]. The title suggests a physics journal but it is actually a website similar to a blog run by Focardi and Rossi, articles are allegedly peer-reviewed by "at least one" physics professor.
*[http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/technik/0,1518,801836,00.html Ralph Diermann: ''Kalte Kernfusion - Herr Rossi sucht das Glück der Menschheit'', SPIEGEL Online, 10.12.2011]
*[http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/35/35803/1.html Haiko Lietz: "Kalte Fusion als Technologie", Heise - Telepolis, 03.11.2011]
*http://www.eonsrl.com (currently no content)
*[http://newenergytimes.com/v2/news/2011/37/NET370.shtml article in "New Energy Times", 37, 30.7.2011]
*[http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion.pdf Peter Ekström: ''Kall Fusion på italienska'' (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English)]
*[http://aleklett.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/rossi-energy-catalyst-a-big-hoax-or-new-physics/ Kjell Aleklett "Rossi energy catalyst – a big hoax or new physics?" http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/index.asp?id=17662 (Swedish)
*http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html
*http://www.newenergytimes.com/v2/news/2008/NET29-8dd54geg.shtml
*[http://www.rainews24.rai.it/it/canale-tv.php?id=23074 Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 3.5.2011]
*[http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Rossi Article in Swedish Wikipedia about Andrea Rossi]
*[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/06/28/report-2-energy-catalyzer-scientific-communication-and-ethics-issues/ S.Krivit: "report2 energy catalyzer scientific communication and ethics issues", Newenergytimes, june 28, 2011]
*[http://www.theoildrum.com/node/8140 Ugo Bardi: ''The E-Cat loses steam'', Blog "The Oildrum",27.7.2011]
*http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/12/the_nuclear_physics_of_why_we.php
*http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/11/cold_fusion_is_it_possible_is.php
*http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-11-30/no-miracles-science-story-energy-catalyzer

===Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGI12A3SWJ4&feature=relmfu at Rainews on 5.5.2011 (Italian)]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzL3RIlcwbY at Rainews on 5.5.2011 (English)]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5uChrjknJA Report in Greek television] (Greek/English)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-0WvK2b7dU] (Demonstration Bologna January 1, 2011)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE] (Demonstration Bologna January 2, 2011)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmHZrhTQhUc] (Demonstration Bologna January 3, 2011)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-8QdVwY98E Steven Krivit: "2011 - Andrea Rossi Explains His Energy Catalyzer", Video of a demonstration on June 14, 2011]
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uviXoafHWrU

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudoscience]]
[[category:Cold Fusion]]

Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer

2015-06-29T16:38:56Z

Halbmond: /* Attempts to replicate the experiments */

[[image:Rossi_Focardi.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture "La Repubblica"). A (yellow) dosimetric pump of the type "LMI P18" can be seen in the foreground (maximum flow: 12.1 l/h)|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_Focardi3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture: TV channel "Rainews24")|300px|thumb]]
[[image:John_Michell_Ecat.jpg|Planned book of a John Michell: Rossi's eCcat - Free Energy, Free Money, Free People. (Xecnet Verlag <ref>From the advertising: ''Featured Book

Our featured book is John Michell's new book Rossi's eCat - Free Energy,
Free Money, Free People.

Out Now!

2011 – And an amazing technology has been developed in Italy which has been
described as the greatest scientific discovery of all human history.

Although shunned by most mainstream media - an army of enthusiasts have
created websites, blogs, forums and videos discussing every stage of its
development – while thousands are following this discovery on social
networks.

For the first time in human history - energy – heat and power - have been
produced in abundant quantities at an insignificant cost without pollution.
For the first time energy can be obtained cleanly and cheaply without
burning fossil fuels, without nuclear power and without renewables –
genuinely portable, free, green energy.

Rossi’s eCat tells the story of how this energy source was discovered,
developed by inventor Andrea Rossi, how it challenges modern science and
what the consequences for mankind could be. This is a discovery which
heralds nothing less than the start of a new era – the year 0 PR
(Post-Rossi).''</ref>)|thumb]]
The '''Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer''' (also ''E-Cat'' or ''Rossi Energy Amplifier'') is an alleged compact fusion reactor that was planned to be marketed in 2011. Commercial launch was postponed several times. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer(see below) Andrea Rossi<ref>Rossi: ''I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano''</ref> and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi, [[Cold Fusion|cold fusion]] of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor<ref>Andrea Rossi in his patent application, page 12: ''the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.''</ref> which, at strong heat, led to the creation of copper. Rossi's 2011 demonstrations were criticized by various sources and several alternative explantations for the alleged effects were found. Neither gamma nor neutron radiation typical for fusion processes could be measured<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf</ref>, and there is no proof of the creation of non-natural isotope ratios in the alleged fusion products. The respective experiments which should have shown energy production through "cold fusion" suffered from several methodic shortcomings and displayed contradicting statements. Independent tests, which might have proven a fusion process according to the said principle, failed so far. Specialist literature regarding the "energy-catalyzer" is not available (as of March 2012).

In March 2011, a Greek business journal titled „Investor's World“ reported the concept was central to a speculative investment deal worth several hundred million Euro. Greek startup "Defkalion is offering state licenses for commercialization of the invention at a price of 40.5 million Euros per country since July 2011.<ref>July 6th, 2011 Dear interested party, You have received this email because you have shown an initial interest for commercial involvement with our company and our products based on Andrea Rossi’s e-Cat invention (exothermic reaction between Hydrogen and Nickel). Many have signed non disclosure agreements with us and others are in the process of doing so. We offer you the possibility to meet with us prior to our public announcement that we accept international expressions of interest through our website as of September 2011. As such, this letter will update you on our current status, and provide you with a clearer understanding of the structure with which we are proceeding for all international partnerships. As many of you know, the manner is the same globally. Regarding exclusivity, having received expressions of interest from 63 countries and more than 850 companies, we decided to change our non-exclusivity approach so that due diligence and selection of multiple partners in any given country is the responsibility off the country rights holder. As such, we will only sign agreements with one company per country. Any additional factories will pass through this partner. --- --- Regarding our international sales approach, it is as follows:
 We sell the rights to manufacture our products exclusively to one company for a given country at a fixed royalty price of 40.5 million Euros per factory producing 300,000 units annually. Within this price, we will: 
o Provide the blueprints to establish the factory according to our international standardized plans, including all details for the machinery / software / technical know-how used in the factory.
o Provide transfer-of-knowledge (production, technical, after sales, maintenance) both in Greece as well as on location
 Additional royalties are paid to us for each product sold
 We sell and deliver the industrial secret as a component to the final product in a black box, plug-and-play module.
 Local company partnerships, marketing, points of sales, technical support remains the responsibility of the country rights holder.
 If additional factories need to be built, the same principles remain.
 Our business and pricing is structured to create lucrative win-win opportunities for all. 

Regarding time-line and milestones for those interested to proceed in talks:
 Initial meeting in Athens during July and August (except 14-20 July and 10-20
August) to discuss and sign preliminary expression of interest contract, whereby the opportunity to secure the exclusive rights will be given. 
 Meeting in our factory during October to inspect and verify kW units
 Meeting in our factory during December to inspect and verify MW units 
--- ---
Regarding next steps, and based on the information provided herein, if you
See opportunities that match your company’s capabilities, and if you believe
your company qualifies to proceed with further talks, we welcome your reply to this email
accordingly in order to: 
 Signing of a non disclosure confidentiality agreement sent by us upon
request
 Secure a date for a meeting in Athens during July or August
The abovementioned initial meeting in our offices here in Athens should not
last more than 3-5 hours. Appointments will be set according to availability. As
mentioned above, these meetings will take place during July (excluding above dates). 
--- ---
Regarding factory specs, below is some basic information regarding the overview of the factory requirements according to our standards. Many of you will have already seen these figures; nothing has changed: 
Larger and smaller factories can be negotiated according to markets. Basic
aspects of each factory producing 300,000 units annually (kW and MW product ranges)
are: 
 12,000m2 space (maximum height of 14 meters for half of the allocated
space)
 IT to monitor production line, 1st level support and distribution channels
Assembly of products will include the following activities:
 Build-up of final product (electronics, heat management, etc)
 Assembly of reactors (purchased from Defkalion)
 Quality Control
 Total Quality Management
 Environmental Control
 Stress Tests
 Functional Tests of end products
 Recharging of units
 Recycling procedures 

Factory Special Conditions: 
 Clear air similar to pharmaceutical industry standards
 Access to constant flow of water
 Heat management of waste heat during tests of modules (this heat energy
could also be used to run the factory’s energy needs with third party technology) 
--- ---
Regarding R&D, it is also the case that some of you seek partnerships in the
field of R&D. Such interest is seen favorably, but will be dealt with under
case-by-case assessment following a detailed expression of interest. Please note that
such talks will take place after October 2011. 
--- ---
We would like to reiterate that this communication is made and provided to
you prior to our international announcement in light of your early participation in
this exciting endeavor. As of September we shall be open to the world at-large through our
new website, which, to date, has received nearly 2 million hits since June 23rd.
We look forward to hearing from you accordingly, and look forward to
welcoming you in Greece soon. You can use the same email (i...@defkalion-energy.com) for
your replies. 
Sincerely,
Symeon Tsalikoglou
Director Business Development & Marketing
Defkalion Green Technologies
</ref> However, in August Rossi ended the just weeks old association.

Inventor Rossi, having got in conflict with the law previously, had also supplied thermoelectrical elements of an alleged miraculous efficiency which, however, displayed merely average properties when tested.

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications in 1995 and 2010.<ref>Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion''. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [https://data.epo.org/publication-server/pdf-document?PN=EP0767962%20EP%200767962&iDocId=4823352&iepatch=.pdf]</ref><ref>WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO</ref> Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge priority and importance of Piantelli's patents: ''"My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not."'' Piantelli's patent expert commented in May 2011 that Rossi had no chance to have the functional principle patented since Piantelli already held a patent on it since 1995.<ref>Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 May 3, 2011</ref> Meanwhile, Piantelli has founded the Italian company NichEnergy S.R.L. which is developing a reactor similar to Rossi's.

Some aspects of the claimed functional principle also happen to be similar to descriptions in a patent registered by Yoshiaki Arata in Japan dated July 2005 (see below). A remote similarity to the [[CETI Patterson Power Cell]] and to the [[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]] can also be established.

==Purported functional principle==
[[image:Ecat3.jpg|Power control and main switch|left|thumb]]
[[image:FAE3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and the reactor (demonstration dd. January 14, 2011, Source: [http://curiositybox.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/bologna-14111-cronaca-test-fusione-fredda-del-reattore-nichel-idrogeno-focardi-rossi/ Curiosity-Blog])|350px|thumb]]
[[image:Ecat4.jpg|Heating power can be selected in steps: 0...9|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_Ecat2.jpg|Several "E-cat" stripped of shielding and insulation. The heating element is clearly a "Rotfil S21" (Image: Giuseppe Levi)|350px|thumb]]
[[image:Ecat5.jpg|Power control|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_Ecat.jpg|Outside view of reaction chamber, lead shielding and insulation removed. Below: Outer heating resistor (here: heating sleeve 300W), above: hydrogen intake, left and right: cooling water line. Image: Giuseppe Levi|350px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_control_box.jpg|The "control box" with 12 phase fired controllers of the type "VL676" from company GSEI in Genoa (Genova)<ref>http://www.gsei.it/attachs/P020_01.pdf</ref> (Image: S.B. Krivit)|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:Hydrogen.jpg|Hydrogen pressure indicator|left|thumb]]
[[image:Heizmanschette.jpg|Typical heating sleeve|thumb]]
[[image:Ultramax.jpg|Typical elements of the "Ultramax cartridge heater" (company Rotfil)(Image: [http://www.rotfil.com/public/downloads/PDF-CAR-017-E.pdf])|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi6.jpg|Claims of cheap nickel isotope enrichment as part of the invention (Screenshot: Blog "Journal of nuclear physics", April 11, 2011)|350px|thumb]]
All data currently available regarding the "Focardi-Rossi Energy Catalyzer" come from inventors and their internet blog, from a patent application submitted by Rossi, from YouTube videos, and from statements of the few physicists who tried to replicate the principle. There has been no noteworthy reception on the part of the international physics community so far. An attempt of inventors to publish an article on their device in a renowned professional journal failed. Only individual physicists reacted with public blog entries and comments (e.g.: [http://aleklett.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/rossi-energy-catalyst-a-big-hoax-or-new-physics/][http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion.pdf][http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html]). The most renowned person having commented the energy catalyzer so far is English Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJnZZi41YA&feature=youtu.be</ref>. Josephson has been known for a supporter of so called "cold fusion" for years. As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Focardi and Rossi publish statements in their own "online periodical" titled "Journal of Nuclear Physics", basically an internet blog, and in Italian journal "Il Cimento". Upon inquiry, physicist Focardi advised the "Journal of Nuclear Physics" was founded by Rossi since publication in accredited journals failed. Focardi stated that [http://arxiv.org "arXiv.org"] was the journal which rejected them: ''A. Carnera, S. Focardi, A. Rossi, to be published on Arxiv.''.

Rossi's company EON Srl and "Leonardocorp." did not provide further information so far.

According to – partly contradictory - information available from inventors Focardi and Rossi, the small reactor allegedly enables exothermal fusion. They claim they managed to "produce" 130 kW thermal energy in an extreme case, and needed just 80 to 1,250 Watts to "pre-heat" respectively to operate the electronic control system.

The process - disclosed only partially, although a patent application was filed (not approved as of April 2011) - involves nickel and hydrogen gas transformed to copper in the presence of an unknown catalyst under emission of heat and ionizing radiation. The fusion process is said to happen in a stainless steel reactor vessel which is placed inside of a copper pipe through which cooling water flows. The patent application claims the stable nickel isotope 62Ni28 (which makes about 3.6% of natural nickel) reacted with hydrogen and was transformed into the stable copper isotope 62Cu29. In his blog, Rossi claims he uses nickel isotope enrichment to get the desired amount of nickel isotopes. To be more precise, he claims to use an unexplained process to achieve enrichment with isotope Ni58.<ref>Citation from JONP Blog:
Daniel de França MTd2
April 29th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Dr Mr. Rossi,

Concerning the Nickel input in the experiment, do you deplete it of Ni58?

Best,

Daniel.

Andrea Rossi
April 29th, 2011 at 2:47 PM
Dear Mr Daniel De Francia:
Yes
Warm regards,
A.R.</ref> The costs are said to be just 10% of the overall costs for nickel powder. Actual isotope enrichment is a very expensive process. Rossi, on the other hand, specified the costs for six months of operation as only a few Euros(see below). The copper thus generated is said to contain two stable copper isotopes, with an isotope proportion different from the one in natural copper.<ref>According to S. Focardi in an E-Mail: ''[...] mostra l'esistenza di Cu (non presente inizialmente) i cui due isotopi stabili sono in un rapporto diverso da quello naturale [...]''</ref> An independent analysis in Sweden did not find an isotope ratio different from the natural one. Such a fusion would require very high temperatures and should result in the emission of strong gamma radiation from the destruction of positrons and electrons.<ref>According to Prof. Jonghwa Chang, Chief Research Advisor of the "Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute", in answering an inquiry by an Italian chemist. see: [http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/]</ref> 

While nickel rods were used initially, recent experiments used nickel powder (particle size is said to be in the nm-range, the patent application mentions 10 µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company<ref>Powder nickel: Gerli Metalli--Milan</ref> from Milan as their supplier. Furthermore, unknown catalysts, not specified even in the patent application, are said to be employed. Nickel oxide - which reacts with hydrogen creating water and heat (NiO2 + H2 --> Ni + H20) – allegedly was not used. According to the patent application, an inner water circuit (with a boric acid solution) is placed inside of the reactor, heat is transferred to an external water circuit by a heat exchanger.

By heating with electrical energy, protons from hydrogen gas are said to enter the nickel atoms at 180-400 degrees Celsius and lead to a nuclear reaction if pressure was increased strongly at regular intervals. Altogether, hydrogen is said to be consumed and some helium is generated.<ref>S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, S. Veronesi. "''Large excess heat production in Ni-H systems''". Il Nuovo Cimento Vol. 111 A, N.11 pp. 1233, novembre 1998</ref> The nickel rod is said to show tiny surface craters after a reaction. According to the patent application, the electrical pre-heating will be turned off automatically by a thermostat when a certain operating temperature is achieved. Further electrical energy (20 to 80 W) was only necessary to supply control electronics. The modules controlling the heating resistors are 12 phase fired controllers of the type VL676 from company GSEI in Genoa (Genova)<ref>http://www.gsei.it/attachs/P020_01.pdf</ref> They can be, depending on type, regulated by 10 or 20 A in 20 half-steps (0..9) and have a consumption of 2 watts (in sum 24 W) from a 24 V voltage source. Internet rumours which cannot be verified claim that high voltage or a magnetic field of 360 kV to overcome the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb_barrier Coulomb barrier] might be applied. The application of so high a voltage is not possible within such a small device due to spark generation.

Inventors also claim the mentioned "fusion" generates weak gamma and neutron radiation.<ref>Battaglia, L. Daddi, S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, P.G. Sona, S. Veronesi. "''Neutron emission in Ni-H Systems''". Nuovo Cimento 112A, pp. 921, 1999.</ref> Radiation is said to be β+ corpuscular radiation with positrons (known from potassium 40-decay). They also claim they do not know the exact functional principle. The actual reaction chamber is estimated at a volume of about one litre and shielded by a layer of 2 cms of lead. In their patent application, inventors claim:

:''The above mentioned coatings are so designed as to restrain all radiation emitted by the exothermal reaction and transform said radiation into thermal energy.''

A contribution in their blog speculatively connects the Focardi Rossi Energy Amplifier to the [[hydrino]] theory of American physician and electrical engineer Randell Mills who claims to work with hydrogen and nickel, too.<ref>[http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?p=338 E. Stremmenos: Hydrogen/Nickel cold fusion probable mechanism. Journal of nuclear physics, 12.12.2010]</ref> Mills is said to work with hydrogen and nickel, too. Supporters of "cold fusion" theories often claim so-called [[Low Energy Nuclear Reactions]] (LENR) were taking place. The term LENR is not known to professional journals and such fusion processes have not been proven as of yet.

Further internet speculations assume this was a normal chemical reaction which apparently remained unknown to inventors and which was usually applied in the purification of nickel ores: the "Sherritt-Gordon process"<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_extraction_techniques#Recovery_from_nickel-cobalt_sulfide_concentrates_.28Sherritt_process.29</ref>, which is accompanied by a heat release, but is a conventional chemical reaction. The evidence of copper thus may be explained by the fact that available nickel often contains copper contaminations.

Looking for possible heat sources, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_%28chemistry%29 absorption]] of hydrogen in nickel in a chemical reaction comes to mind. Hydrogen gas can enter into nickel (and other metals). Extraction on the other hand leads to cooling.
===The energy catalyzer and the Widom Larsen theory===
In 2011, cold fusion supporters repeatedly voiced speculations that the functional principle of Rossi's energy catalyzer was connected to a theory which is not recognized by scientific physics, the [[Widom Larsen theory]], in which the Coulomb barrier played no role. On inquiry, Andrea Rossi explained this theory was not necessary to explain the functional principle. The theory was formulated in 2005 by Allan Widom and Lewis Larsen and published in "Eur. Phys. J. C"<ref>"Ultra Low Momentum Neutron Catalyzed Nuclear Reactions on Metallic Hydride Surfaces," Eur. Phys. J. C, 46: 107–111. (2006)</ref> ([http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0505026 Full Text]). According to this theory, the "cold fusion" processes discussed are not actual fusion but interactions in which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_interaction weak nuclear force] plays a role. This theory claims electrons and protons were able to tansform to „ultra low momentum“ neutrons and one neutrino (e- + p ->n + neutrino). The Ultra Low Momentum Neutrons are said to bond to adjacent nuclei after a short time. The Widom-Larsen theory should avoid the problem of the ''"Three Miracles of Cold Fusion"'' of Huizenga - 1993 (the lack of measurable neutron radiation, avoidance of the Coulomb barrier, and the lack of high-energy gamma rays) due to purported compliance with established physical laws. Reactions involving the weak interaction are mediated by [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-Boson W bosons] which could be demonstrated experimentally in 1983 with the particle accelerator (CERN). W-bosons have roughly 80 times the mass of protons and a very short range. 

===The mysterious catalyst===
Inventors claim the high thermal output of the energy catalyzers is the result of a special catalyst whose composition is kept secret. In scientific nuclear physics, contrary to classic physics, the use of a catalyst in fusion processes is unknown.

Unverifiable internet rumours speculate it might be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raney_nickel "Raney-Nickel"] since two fires in Rossi's laboratories were caused by "Raney-Nickel". Upon inquiry, Rossi stated that no Raney-Nickel was used. Focardi stated he was not aware of the composition of the catalyst himself, since only Rossi knew it. In a radio interview dated March 6, 2011, Focardi offered some speculations about the compound. He believes it was a chemical compound, not an element. It was not uranium. The obvious purpose of the substance was to catalyse the transformation of heated hydrogen gas (H2) into atomic hydrogen (a discussion of possible catalysts for this purpose can be found in a paper by Romanowski from 1999<ref>S. Romanowski, W. M. Bartczak, R. Wesołkowski: ''Density Functional Calculations of the Hydrogen Adsorption on Transition Metals and Their Alloys. An Application to Catalysis'', (3.8.1999), Langmuir, 1999, 15 (18), Seiten 5773–5780 - DOI: 10.1021/la981339q [http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/la981339q]</ref>). To complicate the identification of the catalyst, observers were prohibited to do a spectral analysis of possible gamma radiation, since it might allow the identification of elements of the compound.

===Deactivation===
In his report on the experiment dated March 29, 2011, Professor Sven Kullander wrote the reaction was stopped by switching off the heater and increasing the cooling water flow to a maximum of 30 litres per hour. This contradicts previous claims that the heater would be turned off when operating temperature was achieved. The red wire in the picture to the right (cm 31 - 34) apparently is the heater supply. With a cable this thick it is possible to power the heater with 220 volt/10 amp from a regular wall outlet, which could provide 2,200 Watts and explain the generation of steam.

Prof. Kullander also writes the heater acts as „safety“: ''"At the end of the horizontal section there is an auxiliary electric heater to initialize the burning and also to act as a safety if the heat evolution should get out of control."'' Quite apparently, a heater cannot act as a safeguard for a heat generating process.<ref name="Report_Kullander" />

==The self-destruction mechanism==
According to Rossi, future commercial „energy catalyzers“ will include a self-destruction mechanism. Any attempts to inspect the secret operating mechanism and internal components of reactors thus were prevented.<ref>Andrea Rossi June 6th, 2011 at 2:38 PM Dear Greg: Good point.
This is why we are very conservative regarding the sale of single modules. We are engineering a system that will destroy automatically the confidential parts if the reactor is open. The reactors will be open only in our factory to replace the charge. This is why we want not to replace the charges on site. Warm regards, A.R. Andrea Rossi June 2nd, 2011 at 8:01 AM Dear Mr Riccardo: I think that the household targeted items will arrive later. We have to resolve the problem to make them self-destructive in case of opening the reactors. Otherwise, with few thousands of dollars anybody has access to the confidential aspects of the technology. In industrial plants this issue is more easy to afford and has been resolved.
Warm Regards, A.R. Andrea Rossi June 6th, 2011 at 4:50 PM 
Dear Greg: Defkalion, I suppose, will not sell modules until the protection issue will not be resolved. Warm regards, A.R.</ref>

==Claims on practical application and success==
[[image:FAE1.jpg|Input and output of the reactor according to inventors<ref>S. Focardi, A. Rossi: ''A new energy source from nuclear fusion.'', Journal of Nuclear Physics. [http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/files/Rossi-Focardi_paper.pdf]</ref>|400px|thumb]]
According to Focardi and Rossi, they achieved increasing heat quantities with their device over the years. They claim one nickel rod was sufficient for six months of operations. Rossi, in his patent specification, anecdotally reports he was heating his company's bureaus with this reactor which resulted in some 90% savings regarding electricity bills over a period of six months:

:''A practical embodiment of the inventive apparatus, installed on October 16, 2007, is at present perfectly operating 24 hours per day, and provides an amount of heat sufficient to heat the factory of the Company EON of via Carlo Ragazzi 18, at Bondeno (Province of Ferrara)."''

A "kW-module" allegedly runs in his "Leonardo facility" in New Hampshire (USA) since 2008.

==Details regarding nickel consumption and costs==
According to Rossi, 100 grammes of nickel powder were consumed over a period of six months at 10 kW (therm.) output. The cost for the "fuel" thus amounted to 2 Euro.<ref>Nyteknik-Chat 12.03.2011, [http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3124295.ece]</ref> An E-cat will cost about 2,000 Euro per kW output (a 10 kW-model thus will amount to 20,000 Euro). In the North American radio chat show "Coast to Coast AM", known for propagating [[Conspiracy Theory|conspiracy theories]], Rossi said in March 2011 his planned 1 MW small power station will cost 2 million Dollars, while his 10 kW E-Cat later will cost a mere 5,000 Dollars.<ref>Interview with Andrea Rossi, Talk Radio "Coast to Coast AM", on March 23, 2011 [http://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/rossi-cold-fusion-device]</ref> According to Greek journal "Investor's World" of March 2011, future "E-cat" devices will produce electrical energy through an "inverter". Customers were to face an annual cost of 1,300 Euros for the production of a 24/7 output of 20 kW (not specified whether thermal or electric). "Defkalion Green Technologies" plans to request inclusion into the "renewable energy" programme by RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy).<ref name="talefta">[http://talefta.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-mainstream-coverage-of-e-cat-and.html Blog about the "Investors World" article]</ref><ref name="scan">[http://www.xanthipress.gr/eidiseis/politiki/6874-xynidis-ependysi-hyperion-xanthi-ydrogono-nikelio-paragogi-energeias-ergostasio-xanthi.html Coverage and scan of the article in "Investors World"] (Greek)</ref><ref name="Investors World Article">Article in Greek journal "Investors World" of March 12, 2011, pages 20-21</ref>

==History==
[[image:RF_Ferrara.jpg|First experiments with an „ECat“ predecessor by EON in Bondeno(Ferrara). See „reactor“ on the right, cooled in a bucket of water. (Picture: S. Focardi, May 2011 [http://it.paperblog.com/la-fusione-fredda-e-tornata8230-371137/])|350px|thumb]]
"Anomalies" when adding hydrogen to nickel have been reported since 1936. 1989 was marked by wide media attention to cold fusion as a result of claims regarding failed experiments by Fleischmann and Pons. In the same year, Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli (formerly University of Siena) believed to have incidentally observed a strong heat emission with temperatures above 1,450° C during an experiment with organic material which came into contact with nickel and hydrogen (nickel is used in industry as a catalyst for fat hardening with hydrogen), which he was not able to explain. The incident was reported by several Italian daily papers. In 1995, Piantelli received a "Truffle Prize" for his observations during a "Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen / Deuterium Loaded Metals".<ref>"Truffle Prize", second Asti Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen / Deuterium Loaded Metals, 1995</ref> Various workgroups have done experiments with electrolysis and with nickel and hydrogen since then.

Piantelli founded a private organisation called I.M.O. (''Centro Interuniversitario interdipartimentale per lo studio delle interazioni biofisiche e biochimiche tra molecole e organismi'') after he left Siena University. He developed a method called SQME (''Sequenze di Campi Magnetici ed Elettrici'' - ''Sequence of magnetic and electric fields'') there which, applied to cancer patients, allegedly raised body temperature by four degrees and thus worked as a [[Hyperthermia|hypothermic]] treatment. Specialist literature on this issue does not happen to be known.

Physicist Sergio Focardi from Bologna University heard about Piantelli's observations of temperature increase with nickel-hydrogen reactions and teamed up with him to research the phenomenon. After several years they had built a nickel hydrogen rector and, in a press conference in February 1994, announced their reactor as a principle for "Reazioni Nucleari a Bassa Energia" (LENR, "Low Energy Nuclear Reactions"), avoiding the term "cold fusion", however.<ref>Press conference on 20. February 1994, Aula magna, University Siena</ref> Once more articles were published in the daily press and as before in 1989, there were no academic publications. An output of 40-50 thermal Watts was claimed. A nickel rod with a pre-treated surface which had been "degassed" for several hours was said to be enclosed in the reactor surrounded by hydrogen. Italian industry looked into the matter and tried to exploit the Piantelli principle commercially. However, all attempts to put it to industrial application failed. Companies involved were TESCA Syndicate (companies Bulla, Bergomi, Foglia, Italkero and Ecosystem), FIAT AVIO SpA corporation and PROVITA s.r.l.<ref>http://www.enea.it/produzione_scientifica/pdf_volumi/V2008_16Cold_Fusion_Italy.pdf</ref>

In 2007 Andrea Rossi is said to have offered Sergio Focardi a contract as a consultant, which led to cooperation.

==Experiments and demonstrations==

===Experiment on December 16, 2010===
A test of the E-cat reactor was done on December 16, 2010 (apparently in Bologna), but so far no details are known.

===Presentation on January 14, 2011===
[[image:FAE4.jpg|Video of an experiment taking several minutes during a public presentation on January 14, 2011 (Source: [http://curiositybox.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/bologna-14111-cronaca-test-fusione-fredda-del-reattore-nichel-idrogeno-focardi-rossi/ Curiosity-Blog])|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:RF_14012011_3.jpg|Temperature curve, with two periods (17 minutes) during which 100°C were reached (reconstructed from video)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_14012011_tp2.jpg|Reconstructed superposition of temperature and heating curve. The time difference between the two curves is to be noted, it is a result of a simplification which equates the start of heating with the start of the temperature rise. (an improved diagram is in progress)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_Dauer2.jpg|Screenshot from a video of the experiment used to estimate its duration|left|thumb]]
[[image:Ecat power.jpg|Diagram showing the timeline of electrical heating input during the experiment|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF_Thermometer.jpg|Comparison of the shown probe to a HP474AC probe (Image: www.physicsforums.com)|thumb]]
[[image:RF_Pumpe.jpg|Specifications of pump used "LMI P18" (Image: www.physicsforums.com)|thumb]]
Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi gave a press conference on January 14, 2011 which was not only attended by Italian public television station RAI (RAI 3) and numerous journalists, but also by several physicists employed at universities. Admission was restricted to invited guests. The presentation was done in rooms rented from the company "GM System" in an industrial area of Bologna<ref>Company GM System, Via dell'Elettricista 16, Bologna</ref> and not in rooms of Bologna University, as is claimed on various websites. GM Systems has further business ties to Rossi. During this press conference, the function of the reactor was demonstrated for about an hour (55 minutes) in an adjoining room. An analysis of recorded measurement data which can be seen on the screen of a notebook in a Youtube-video for a couple of seconds allow to estimate a period of 15 to 20&nbspminutes(probably 17  minutes), during which a water temperature of 100 degrees or more was achieved. (see picture). The data visible on the notebook were omitted from the report on the experiment (according to physicist Levi, they were "lost"). Later, in June 2011, it became known the data were not actually "lost", Levi was willing to send them to the visiting journalist Steven Krivit. The report also mentions a period of 40 minutes, obviously referring to the entire period including heating up. To calculate the heat output, inadvertent or deliberately incorrect data of water throughput were included, which was in truth less than half of the said amount. The inventors reported the experiment in their blog<ref>http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?p=360</ref>, and published three Youtube videos in Italian language [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-0WvK2b7dU], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmHZrhTQhUc].

During the press conference they mentioned a heat input of 600 Watts, at a calculated output of 12,000 Watts (12 kW). However, according to a report published (G. Levi), actual supplied power was 1,022 Watt on average. A further analysis of the data published showed a result of 1,073 Watt.<ref>http://www.e-catalyzer.se/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7</ref> Power used was between 400 and 1,500 W. The inventors calculated their estimate of generated heat from the heated water: 292 grammes of water per minute were heated from 20 °C to 101 °C (allegedly dry vapour) and evaporated. The attending physicists were allowed to take some measurements. They were disappointed, however, as a spectral analysis of the gamma radiation was denied for secrecy reasons. A detailed report submitted by independent physicists from Bologna University stated that no gamma radiation was detected, although the device was supplied with two openings for measurement purposes. Excerpt from the report:
:''[...] no gamma radiation above the background level in the energy region Eγ > 200 keV has been observed, neither in single counting, not in coincidence; regardless of the internal details of the reaction chamber, shieldings and other industrial secrets, the γ rates measured with the NaI counters seem not compatible with the rates deduced or expected assuming that the energy production was due to nuclear fusion or decay reactions, as suggested in [1].''
Observers were allowed to weigh the hydrogen gas container before and after the experiment (weight: 13,66 kgs). Even considering possible errors in measurement (duct tape still attached), hydrogen usage was estimated at less than one gramme. Not enough to make conventional hydrogen combustion plausible. Link to the report: [http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf]
[[image:Rf_14012011_8.jpg|Alternative calculation explaining the reported values without cold fusion(Source: unknown author "Ascoli65" from Italian forum EnergeticAmbiente.it)|480px|thumb]]
'''Inconsistencies''': Several incomprehensible pieces of information were provided shortly after the experiment. Even weeks later, Rossi's team did not react with a correction. Not only was the duration of the experiment shorter than claimed before at 17 minutes (during which temperature was close to or above 100 degrees), but there is also reason to doubt further claims of inventors and operators of the experiment. The estimate of energy by evaporation of water(phase change) was criticized at "www.physicsforums.com" in retrospect, as respective calculations were made assuming dry vapour without fractions of condensed water, which was not proven. The probe shown in the video can only measure the heat but not relative humidity of the steam. A combined probe of the type HP474AC (Delta Ohm) was claimed to have been used, but the video shows a different probe which looks like an SPC C45 0500 BEX - probe. An HP474AC probe is not visible in any video. The claimed water throughput of 292 ml/min. (= 17.5 liter/h) was doubted too, since the pump used had only half of this capacity according to specification. A pump of the type "LMI P18" had been used, as was confirmed in May 2011 by the Swedish journalist Mats Lewan. Several previous inquiries about the type of pump were not answered by Andrea Rossi.<ref>From JONP-Blog, Question to Rossi: ''January 28th, 2011 at 10:57 AM Excuse, Dr. Levi, my insistence, but on the lack of an answer to my previous question, let me temporarily assume that the model of the pump used in the January 14th test belongs actually to the Milton Roy LMI Series P1. In such a case, the capacity per stroke could be at maximum 2 ml (model P18 in the Series P1). Now, considering the pump has been operated at about 57 strokes per minute (hear sound at the beginning of movie 2/3), it makes a maximum water flow rate of 114 ml per minute, that would be 39% only of the value indicated in your preliminary report. Probably, I have got a bad impression and the pump was another one. So I think it would be of great importance, if you could gather and kindly specify, here and/or on the final version of your report, the real specific model and the relevant operating data of the water pump used in your verification test. Thank you and best regards'' (Name) A. Rossi: Andrea Rossi January 28th, 2011 at 10:32 PM Dear (Name): I do not know which kind of pump it was, because it has been chosen by the testers, but what I can say, regarding your comment, is: 1- the amount of the flow of water has been tested many times during the test, filling a reservoir with a well known volume and taking the time to fill it up. 2- I thank you very much for validating our test by redundance: in fact, if only the 39% of the measured flow should have been passed, the reactor would have produced 4.8 kWh, consuming 400 Wh. I am sure that you, being an engineer of a great energy provider, know the first and also the second thermodynamic principle, therefore I am sure you made your comment to congratulate us. For this reason I thank you infinitely. Warm Regards, Andrea Rossi</ref>.
The manufacturer specifies a maximal flow of 12.1 l/h for the LMI P18.<ref>http://www.lmipumps.com/Files/lmi/Global/US-en/site_files/seriesj5.pdf</ref> Other models (A/B/C) of LMI pumps can be ruled out, as they definitely look different. Water throughput of these programmable peristaltic pumps can be regulated. The number of strokes per minute and the pumped volume can be regulated separately. The maximal number of strokes is 100 per minute. At 100 strokes/min, maximum throughput will be achieved. In one of the YouTube videos of the presentation on January 14, 2011, pump strokes are clearly audible for 30 seconds.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE</ref> Counting them, 29 or 30  strokes in those thirty seconds can be established. The pump was regulated to 59 to 60 strokes/minute, which corresponds to 60% of maximal flow rate. The heat output calculated by the team is thus 240% higher than the output actually possible using the pump shown in the video, and therefore certainly wrong. These faulty specifications on the average power (1,073 W instead of 600 W) result in an additional grave error of 78%. Assuming just a few percent of condensed water in the vapour would allow to explain the steam generation just by electrical heating.
The report on the experiment states that the hydrogen cylinder employed was weighed before and after the test to establish the amount of hydrogen used with a margin of less than a gramme. Regarding the weight of the pressure cylinder, different data are given, but it is said to have been 13.66 kg. Available scales for the given range (for 20/30/60 kg) allow to read weight in steps of 0.1 gramme, but their precision is far less. Possible scales just offer a precision of 0.2 to 0.4 gram.<ref>Sartorius (CPA34001S) 34 kg d=0,1 gr e 0,2 gr.[http://www.sartorius-mechatronics.com/DE/de/praezisions-waage-dy3xpfyyb7o.html] Precisa 490K 34000D, 34 kg d=0,1 gr e 0,2 gr [http://www.as-waegetechnik.de/produkte/Industriewaagen/iw/praezisionswaagen_assets/Precisa%20490.pdf] Kern CDS 15K0.05 15 kg d=0,05 g, e 0,25 g Adam Equipment PGL-20001 Precision Balance 20 kg d 0.1g, linearity (±): 0.4g</ref>

===Undocumented experiment on February 10/11, 2011===
On February 10 or 11, 2011, a further "internal test" of the „E-Cat“ was carried out in Bologna, attended by allegedly "independent" physics lecturer Guiseppe Levi from Bologna University. Several internet sources claim the test instead happened on February 18, 2011. Sole witness was physicist Levi, head of a physics faculty research group which received financial grants for their support in the project. Levi was also responsible for the poor quality report regarding the test in January. According to Guiseppe Levi's description, published in a Swedish online article titled ''"Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion"''<ref>Mats Lewan: ''Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion'', "nyteknik.se", article from February 23, 2011. [http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3108242.ece Text]</ref>, a hose connected the device to a water tap this time in order to cool the "reactor". Tap water was said to have flown through the device at about 1 liter per second and was warmed by 5 degrees (to 15-20 degrees). Obviously this test was done to counter the criticism of test conditions in January. The test was said to have run continuously for 18 hours, a water meter quantified the flow, and the test was monitored by video during the night (this video was never released). The "reactor" was allegedly heated up for ten minutes with 1,250 Watts initially and subsequently only a control unit was supplied with 80 Watts, while an alleged constant thermal performance of 15-20 Kilowatt was established. According to Levi, 0.4 grammes of hydrogen were used in those 18 hours. The same source quotes Levi with the remark he now excluded "chemical energy sources" as heat source:

:''...Now that I have seen the device work for so many hours, in my view all chemical energy sources are excluded..''.

The alleged heat output was calculated by supporters of [[Cold Fusion]] (LENR ''Low Energy Nuclear Reactions'' - CANR ''Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reactions'') at 270-288 kWh (about one GJ), which was compared to the energy of 26 litres of heating oil.<ref>Zitat: News Rossi 18-hour demonstration 
 
February 2011 
 
On February 10 and 11, 2011, Levi et al. (U. Bologna) performed another test of the Rossi device. Compared to the January 14 test, they used a much higher flow rate to keep the cooling water from vaporizing. This is partly to recover more heat, and partly because Celani and others criticized phase-change calorimetry as too complicated. There were concerns about the enthalpy of wet steam versus dry steam, and the use of a relative humidity meter to determine how dry the steam was. A source close to the test gave Jed Rothwell the following figures. These are approximations: 
 
Duration of test: 18 hours 
Flow rate: 3,000 L/h = ~833 ml/s. 
Cooling water input temperature: 15°C 
Cooling water output temperature: ~20°C 
Input power from control electronics: variable, average 80 W, closer to 20 W for 6 hours 
 
The temperature difference of 5°C * 833 ml = 4,165 calories/second = 17,493 W. Observers estimated average power as 16 kW. A 5°C temperature difference can easily be measured with confidence. 
 
3,000 L/h is 793 gallons/h, which is the output of a medium-sized $120 ornamental pond pump. 
 
The control electronics input of ~80 W is in line with what was reported for tests before Jan. 14. Input power was high on that day because there was a problem with cracked welding, according to the Levi report. 
 
18 hours * 16 kWh = 288 kWh = 1,037 MJ. That is the amount of energy in 26 kg of gasoline (7.9 gallons). Given the size and weight of the device, this rules out a chemical source of energy. 
 
Levi et al. are expected to write another paper about this test. We will upload it when it becomes available. NyTeknik published a fascinating description of the latest experiment (in English). This includes new details, such as the fact that the power briefly peaked at 130 kW. NyTeknik also published an interview with two outside experts about the demonstration: Prof. Emeritus at Uppsala University Sven Kullander, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences Energy Committee, and Hanno Essén, associate professor of theoretical physics, Swedish Royal Institute of Technology. Two versions are available, in English and Swedish. LENR-CANR Org. News from February 2011. [http://lenr-canr.org/News.htm]</ref>
Assuming an average output of 17 kW (the input of electrical energy for pre-heating and control may be neglected) over 18 hours actually renders about 300 kWh, arithmetically speaking. The fuel value of 1 litre of oil is at about 10 kWh<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heating_oil</ref> so that in terms of figures, an amount of 30 litres may be calculated to produce the same heat quantity.

Since the volume of the visible devices can be estimated, interested parties in the internet (Usenet) tried to find candidates for a known chemical reaction which could be done in the given volume and produce enough heat while disregarding problems like smoke emission, toxicity, costs, and controllability. While a normal chemical reaction can indeed not be ruled out for the first demonstration in January, a replacement candidate for the alleged 18 hour experiment in February could not be found. The volume of the external control unit is said to be about 60 litres, but contained only electronics according to Levi. He estimated the actual reaction chamber at a volume of about 1 litre. The shielding is said to be a layer of 2 cms of lead with an overall weight of 30 kgs.

The placement of the probe, supposed to measure water temperatures during the test, was also criticized. The probe was inserted from outside the "reactor" and might have come into contact with an inner heating resistor which would have rendered an assessment of heat output impossible. Further criticism was targeted at the start temperature which might even have been below the (unknown) room temperature, which even more complicates the interpretation of the data.

===Experiment on March 29, 2011===
[[image:29032011_1.jpg|350px|thumb]]
[[image:29032011_5.jpg|(with claimed working conditions)|350px|thumb]]
[[image:29032011.jpg|380px|thumb]]
[[image:rf_2011_4.jpg|Comparison of different heating curves|350px|thumb]]
A six-hours' presentation was performed in Bologna on March 29, 2011, attended by the invited Swedish physicists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén. Both had traveled from Sweden at the invitation of Rossi, travel expenses were paid by Rossi. Due to "stability reasons", a smaller "energy catalyzer" with lesser output was used, and is said to have yielded 25 kWh within 6 hours with a thermal output of 4.4 kW. The same pump as in January, the LMII P18, was used in this presentation, but this time the capacity was compatible with the maximum flow capacity specified by manufacturers and therefore probable. Water throughput was stated at 6.27 kg/h (104 ml/min). As in the experiment in January, water was evaporated, but without measuring relative humidity of the vapour, errors in measurement of up to 600% may occur. It is also impossible to establish in retrospect whether the water was evaporated completely, since the warm water drain was placed next to the steam port. The assembly was filled with 50 grammes of nickel powder. Initially, hydrogen gas was pumped into the device at 25 bar but without previously pumping air out. Quote: ''The air of atmospheric pressure remained in the container as a small impurity.'' (Note: If oxygen from the air stayed inside - as claimed -, water could have formed, since nickel powder acts as a catalyst). Heating was done at 300 Watt.<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3144827.ece</ref><ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3144772.ece</ref><ref>http://22passi.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-fisici-svedesi-sulle-cat-e-una.html</ref> During the presentation, insulation and lead shielding were removed from some E-cats displayed, but not from the E-cat used. Attending Giuseppe Levi made photos which were published in Italian and Swedish blogs. The Swedish observers wrote a report also published in internet blogs. In their report<ref name="Report_Kullander">http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3144960.ece/BINARY/Download+the+report+by+Kullander+and+Ess%C3%A9n+%28pdf%29.</ref>, they excluded a conventional chemical reaction:

:''Any chemical process should be ruled out for producing 25 kWh from whatever is in a 50 cubic centimeter container. The only alternative explanation is that there is some kind of a nuclear process that gives rise to the measured energy production.''

Observers invited were allowed to examine two material samples in advance: the nickel powder and "spent" nickel powder from an experiment which previously had been run for 2 and a half months. Rossi delivered the samples during a visit to Sweden. According to an analysis performed at the Ångström Laboratory (Ångströmlaboratoriet) of Uppsala University, the used sample contained 10% copper and 11% iron. Surprisingly, the isotope ratio of nickel and copper (isotope 63 and isotope 65) was equal to the natural isotopic composition.

:''Both measurements show that the pure nickel powder contains mainly nickel, and the used powder is different in that several elements are present, mainly 10 percent copper and 11 percent iron. The isotopic analysis through ICP-MS doesn’t show any deviation from the natural isotopic composition of nickel and copper.''

The ratios specified were: Cu-63 70%, Cu-65 30%. Professor Sven Kullander commented such a result as extremely unlikely:
:''If this reaction chain would be true even though none of the responses that I mention can be made with the knowledge we have today, then isotopic distribution Cu-63/Cu-65 be greater than 80/20, probably closer to 99/01.''<ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/vortex-l@eskimo.com/msg44471.html Sven Kullander's additional comments on Rossi's Energy Catalyzer] im Mailarchive</ref>

The natural isotope ratio of 63Cu to 65Cu is 2.24 (69.17% to 30.83%). Focardi had previously claimed the copper isotope ratio would be reduced to 1.6 by "fusion".<ref>S. Focardi, A. Rossi, ''A new energy source from nuclear fusion'', Journal of Nuclear Physics, http://www.journal-of-nuclearphysics.com/?p=66, Februar 2010</ref> While there are further copper isotopes, these are unstable and are not found in nature (69,17 + 30,83 = 100).

It is not only statistically (almost) impossible that, after an alleged fusion reaction with copper as a fusion product, a "used" sample will show the same isotope ratio as found in nature. Further considerations on sample analysis expose insurmountable obstacles to the possibility of fusion: In theory, the stable copper isotopes 63Cu and 65Cu might be a result of fusion of hydrogen and nickel isotopes 62Ni and 64Ni (add one proton each). But according to the Swedish Institute having analysed the samples, the unused nickel sample only contained 4.5% in sum of these stable nickel isotopes. Assuming all nickel 62 and nickel 64 atoms had been fused (which is unlikely) with a proton (hydrogen nucleus), the amount of copper would not amount to even 10% of the resulting mass. Even an alternative reaction chain with unstable isotopes is impossible based on the measured isotope ratios and the absence of radiation. It would be possible to assume nickel 58 as a starting isotope which would become copper 59 and decay to nickel 59 which in turn would become copper 60 and decay to nickel 60 which would fuse to copper 61, decay to nickel 61 and fuse to copper 62 and decay to nickel 62. In the end stable copper 63 would be formed. But this would necessitate a completely different copper isotope ratio then found in the analysis.

===Experiments in April 2011===
[[image:19042011_2.jpg|Temperature graph and alleged working conditions of the test on April 19|350px|thumb]]
[[image:28042011_1.jpg|Two heating resistors switched on (9/3)|left|thumb]]
[[image:28042011_4.jpg|Temperature graph and alleged working conditions of the test on April 28|350px|thumb]]
[[image:28042011_2.jpg|Possible concealed adjustment of heating by Rossi during the experiment|left|thumb]]
On April 19 and April 28, the E-Cat was presented to Swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik journal). To measure the energy produced, water was heated and, at an input of just 300 Watts, allegedly several litres of water evaporated. Rossi estimated the heating output at more than 2 kW. A regular publication of the results did not happen. Lewan, thrilled by the invention, published details only on a few websites ([http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3166567.ece/BINARY/Report+test+of+E-cat+19+April+2011.pdf] [http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3166569.ece/BINARY/Report+test+of+E-cat+28+April+2011.pdf]). A short video of the experiment on April 28, 2011 is available.<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3166451.ece</ref> The dosimetric pump LMI P18 was used once more. Water throughput was specified with 63-69 ml/min this time, a value which is possible according to manufacturers' specifications. Stroke frequency was 32/min. With a stroke-volume of 2 ml (maximum), the throughput is 64 ml/min, a value which corresponds exactly to the values established by other measurements during the experiment. The weight of the pumped water was measured several times as it flowed through the device within a determinated period of time. Since the supplied electrical heating power of 315 Watt was just measured once at startup with a pliers ammeter, it remains unclear whether the heating input was constant. When journalist Lewan went into an adjoining room and did a pan shot with his video camera, Rossi was seen tampering with the heating regulation. It is therefore unclear whether the input remained constant during the experiment. The American journalist Krivit created a video at the end of July 2011, that comments on cuts from the video by Mats Lewan: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uviXoafHWrU]

A further experiment allegedly planned for April 21, 2011<ref>http://energycatalyzer.blogspot.com/2011/04/rossi-brings-e-cat-to-stockholm-royal.html</ref>, allowing Swedish scientists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén of Uppsala University to test the E-Cat, was later denied by Rossi.<ref>http://energycatalyzer.blogspot.com/2011/04/andrea-rossi-no-e-cat-test-at-uppsala.html</ref>

===Presentation on June 14, 2011===
[[image:RF14062011_1.jpg|Experiments on June 14, 2011 (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011Strom.jpg|Current measurement: 3,5 A (805 W). (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|left|thumb]]
[[image:Krivit_Rossi2.jpg|Steven B. Krivit (left) and Andrea Rossi (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_Pumpe2.jpg|Pump settings on June 14, 2011 (image: blog of Daniele Passerini)|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:LMI_Pump.jpg| Datasheet of the pump model (LMI [http://www.lmi-pumps.com/Manuals/157983_1615n.pdf])|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_Dampf2.jpg|Steam outlet to drain (Picture: S.B. Krivit)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_Dampf.jpg|White Steam against a dark backround at hose outlet (Picture: S.B. Krivit)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_KV1.jpg|Cooling water temperature curve|thumb]]
[[image:RF14062011_KV3.jpg|thumb]]
On June 14, 2011 a further demonstration of four E-cat devices took place in Bologna. The U.S. publisher of "New Energy Times", Steven B. Krivit was invited. Krivit and other visitors were allowed to take pictures and follow the measurements during the presentation. As before, the actual reactor was not allowed to be inspected. Krivit conducted several video interviews with Andrea Rossi, Sergio Focardi, and the physicist Guiseppe Levi.

According to information from an Italian blog, the ECat was connected to a control unit by two power cables. The power taken from the main supply was 805 Watt (230 V / 3.5 A). According to Rossi, heating power was just 748 W, but he falsely assumes a voltage of 220 V (220 x 3,4 A = 748 W). Voltage in Italy has been 230 V for 10 years now. A voltage of more than 230 V was measured in the showrooms several times. Rossi specified the entire heating output of the reactor at 5 kW, which would correspond to an "energy efficiency" of 6.7 times the input.

At an ambient temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius, water with a temperature of 26.5 degrees had been heated to 100,1 degrees using the LMI pump already known, and all water was evaporated. Rossi once more claims the same improbable value for water flow of 7 kg/h(117 gr/min, 1.94 gr/s). Watching a video taken by observer Steven Krivit, however, shows that pump frequency was about 20-24 strokes/min.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-8QdVwY98E</ref> Thus water flow had to be below 48 grams per minute (or 0.8g/s, 2.88 kg/h). In a picture taken by observer Passerini, a pumping rate of 40 is visible (80 ml/min, 1.33 ml/s, 4.8 l/h). It remains unclear, however, whether the picture was taken during the experiment. The temperature curve of the cooling water cannot be brought into a meaningful relationship to the claimed flow rate of 7kg/h: Cooling water comes from a water canister with a temperature sensor of about 25 cms length plugged in from the top. When the water is pumped away, the probe gets out of the water and takes up air temperature quickly. A screenshot of the temperature curve on the notebook shows that quite a lot of water was drained during the first half of the day, so that the probe hung in the air soon. In the afternoon water flow apparently was throttled. For at least three hours the probe was in water(about 12:00 to 15:00). This means that during these three hours, 9 liters of water (calculated from the dimensions of the canister and the length of the probe) were drained at most, which would be about 3 liters per hour and correspond to the calculated value from the audible stroke frequency of the pump. To get to 7 liters/h, someone would have had to secretly pour 4 liters of water with 26.5 degrees into the canister. Adding colder tap water would have shown in the temperature curve.

Krivit published a disappointing preliminary report three days later.<ref>Krivit S.B.: ''Preliminary Report of Interviews with E-Cat Trio Rossi, Focardi and Levi''. June 16, 2011. New Energy Times Blog. [http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/06/16/preliminary-report-of-interviews-with-e-cat-trio-rossi-focardi-and-levi/]</ref> According to his preliminary report, the steam outlet was not visible and ended directly in a drain. Only when a black hose was removed from the drain (Rossi was careful to lift the hose to let any water in the hose run down the drain), "white steam" could be seen exiting the hose. 100 % dry steam is invisible, white steam is a sign of condensed water droplets.

According to the summary by Krivit, ''the scientific details provided by the E-Cat trio have been highly deficient and have not enabled the public to make an objective evaluation''. The Essen/Kullander report, too, had ..''significant weakness in its presentation of data and calculations and is highly constrained by the methodology dictated and instrumentation provided by the E-Cat trio''. According to Krivit, he is not sure if Levi did understand the potential impact of confirmation of dry vapour. Krivit advised Levi to rework his controversial report of January 21, 2011 and asked for original raw data measured by chemist Galantini during the experiment on January 14, 2011, which allegedly confirmed dry vapour in that experiment. A fierce dispute broke out between Krivit and Levi over these data. Levi is said to have agreed to send him the "Galantini Data". The "Galantini data" are, however, just a set of e-mails from a chemist who is claimed to have done measurements.<ref>-------- Messaggio originale -------- Oggetto: sonda Data: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:56:41 +0100
Mittente: Greit Service srl xxx@greitservice.it> A: <francesco.celani@xxx;

Si certifica che lo strumento con cui è stato effettuata la misura dell'acqua libera nel vapore durante il test svoltosi a Bologna il 14.01.2011 era lo strumento HD37AB1347 della Delta Ohm dotato di sonda mod.HP474AC con campo di risoluzione -40;+150°C. 

Galantini dr.Gilberto *GREIT SERVICE s.r.l. via Monsignore di Sotto, 32/A
44040 ALBERONE DI CENTO (FE)
C.F. e P. I.V.A. 02544400373
[omissis]

----- Messaggio inoltrato da [omissis]-----
Data: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:02:22 +0200
Da: Greit Service srl
Rispondi-A:Greit Service srl [omissis]
A: [omissis] 

Buon giorno, in merito alla richiesta fattami in data odierna, come da me ripetutamente confermato alle numerose persone che me ne hanno fatto richiesta in passato, ripeto che tutte le mie misurazioni effettuate durante le decine di test per misurare la quantità di acqua non evaporata presente nel vapore prodotto dai generatori “E-Cat” sono sempre state effettuate dando i risultati in % di massa poiché lo strumento utilizzato indica i gr. di acqua per mc. di vapore. 
Confermo che la temperatura misurata è sempre stata maggiore di 100,1°C. 
E che la pressione misurata nel camino è sempre risultata essere pari alla pressione ambiente. 
Lo strumento utilizzato durante il test effettuato alla presenza dei professori svedesi è stato il seguente: Testo 176 H2 codice 0572 1766. 
Distinti saluti. 

Galantini dr. Gilberto 
Ordine dei Chimici n.194 
Provincia di Ferrara</ref> It is apparent from the e-mails that the commisioned chemist Gilberto Galantini used an unsuitable meter for the problem at hand. Galantini measured a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity#Relative_humidity relative humidity] of allegedly 100.1 degrees Celsius hot steam with a probe(HP474AC) to determine the relative humidity in the air. The real question, however, deals with the distinction between [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_vapor water vapor] and dry vapor.

Swedish physicist Peter Ekström of Lund University presented calculations based on Krivit's video and came to a devastatingly negative result which can be read on the internet.<ref>http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion_krivit.pdf</ref> According to his calculations, a powerful jet of steam should have left the hose but that did not happen.

After Krivit's report had been published, inventor Andrea Rossi responded very irritated and obviously angry with the visitor invited by him, the "Clown" Krivit, whom he also called a "snake".<ref>June 17th, 2011 at 3:10 PM Dear Maryyugo: We have already made enough public tests, either heating the water ( please go to read all our reports and papers on the Journal Of Nuclear Physics, or making steam. In this last case we always made the measurement of unvaporized water residue giving the result in mass. Our tests have been made with Professors of Physics working with the Universities of Bologna, Uppsala, Stockolm, with CERN, with INFN, and I think that only an imbecile can think that such Persons are not able to weight water in steam. We are receiving suggestions how to measure the water in steam, and this is like teach to a cat how to miew. By the way: the steam from the reactors which we are testing now, and that will compound the 1 MW plant, is dry. The steam during the interview of the clown of yesterday was totally dry. Of course, should be this not true, our Customers will be very angry: in that case, that will be an opinion which will be very important for us, while the opinion of our competitors and of their friends, for obvious reasons, have not much importance for us, if any. Now I have to make my 1 MW plant, then we will make other 1 MW plants for our Customers. That’s all we will do. Our Customers tests are the sole tests that count, for us. Therefore, I have absolutely not time for competitors anxious to test my Cat to make their “validation”. About the work that we will make with the University of Bologna and Uppsala, this will not be a public demo, but a work of Research and Development, made closed doors. Warm Regards, A.R.</ref> According to Rossi, the vistior had "understood nothing" and written a "ridiculous" report. He also accused Krivit of having been "sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work". Furthermore, he had tried to blackmail physicist Levi who has already given this to his attorney:

:''..Probably this journalist has been sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work. He also tried to blackmail prof. Levi, and Levi already has given to his attorney due. information..''<ref>Dear Craig: Mr Krivit has understood nothing of what he saw, from what I have read in his ridiculous report… This guy has seen for half an hour an E-Cat in the factory where we make many tests, made some questions to Prof. Levi, Prof. Focardi and me. Evidently has understood nothing, perhaps for the short time we gave him, also because we have to work. Prof. Levi has explained very well to him how the measures have been made and the importance of the issue. He has explained very well that the percentage of uncondensed water in the steam has been measured in weight (in volume is impossible, for various reasons), and he also got confirmation of this from a specialist from whom he has taken indipendent counsel. Nevertheless, he has understood nothing, or wanted not to understand, for reasons he better knows. Our tests have been performed by Physics Professors, who know how to make measures , and I am measuring the performance every day on 300 reactors. In any case we will start our 1 MW plant in october and we will see how it works. Of course I assure his considerations are invalid, but I want to say more: our products on the market will confirm this. Probably this journalist has been sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work. He also tried to blackmail prof. Levi, and Levi already has given to his attorney due. information . Warm Regards, A.R. 17 giugno 2011 11:48</ref>

Physicist Levi responded with an open letter in clumsy English to Krivit, in which he accused him of not having understood his explanations. Also Krivit had not understood that the water content in the steam was measured as a ration of the masses involved.<ref>Dear Mr. Krivit

Carefully I have read your preliminary report on your travel to Bologna .
Your report Clearly Demonstrates That You have not understood anything of what you have and what we have seen you Explained.
First of all the story about the steam.
As the signature in my email says I got a PhD in Physics Years Ago.This Means That I have totally Understood the difference Between residual water in steam as fraction of the mass or volume.
As I have unsuccessfully tried to explain you:
1) The plots are showing you where you can find well known and Them in Any manual of physical chemistry.
When You apply the measure the quantity of steam present as% of VOLUME.

2) As I have told you many times, Dr. Galantini, the expert chemist That Was in charge, have done to measure as percent of MASS.

As Professor Zanchini has told you the Same Day We Met, one of the informations you have crutial omitted from your preliminary report, fraction of water in the steam, Measured by MASS as we have done, would reduce the amount of energy in a Measured linear way.

So our analysis and our calculation is correct.

Because you:
Part of You Had omitted information, insulted me (and my University) Trying to say that I'm not prepared in my field, tried (just tried) to scare me and put me under psychological pressure in order to know to Obtain undisclosed date,
I Will not Send You Any Other information.

Regards,
Dr. G. Levi</ref>

===Presentation on Juli 8,2011===
On Juli 8th a visitor named Julian Brown was allowed to see a working reactor in Bologna for a brief time. He reported about it in a blog called "ecatnews" and stated that Rossi was assuming a cooling water flow of 15 liters per hour.<ref>http://ecatnews.com/?p=489#comment-70</ref> He saw, however, the already known pump of LMI company and estimated a cooling water flow of only 3 liters/h himself.<ref>Julian Brown July 17, 2011 - 12:41 pm 
Rossi gave me a personal demonstration of a group of 4 e-cats working at his premises outside Bologna on Friday 8th. I saw essentially the same set up reported by Krivit in June.

I was there in the capacity of friendly off-the-record adviser re patenting issues.

Whilst I didn’t like the tone of Krivit’s June 16 report, I had arrived in Bologna full of optimism.

I am afraid that I now fully share Krivit’s opinion.

There are a number of reasons for this. Here are a few.

As has been pointed out numerous times on this blog, the dryness of the steam/water vapur is abolutely crucial to the viability of the e-cat.

Imagine my astonishment and disappointment on finding that Rossi makes no attempt to monitor the dryness of the output and there was no appropiate equipment visible on the premises.

It follows that Rossi can not possibly know whether he has 1,2 5 or even 10 percent unvaporized phase by weight. Passive observers like myself, Krivit, Essen & Kullander have even less chance of determining this crucial parameter.

Even worse, since the output tube went straight through a hole in the wall to be vented/flushed outside, it could have been pure hot water and nobody, least of all Rossi, could possibly know.

Basically, the whole set up defies even approximate quantitative calorimetric analysis.

Another odd thing was that Rossi pumped up the electrical power for a minute or two shortly before turning it off and allowing me to see that the water kept an output temperature of 100.5 for a couple of minutes.

This gave me the impression that it was a performance for my benefit and not the rigorous testing procedure that the technician sitting in front of the PC appeared to suggest.

The final clincher for me is that Rossi made a point of telling me that he was currently vaporizing 15 litres / hour.
BUT, the peristaltic pump was exactly the same one he uses in all demonstrations and it was pulsing about once every 2.5 seconds.
I make that 3 litres / hour, only 20 percent of what Rossi told me verbally.

And yet this small flow was being shared amongst 4 e-cat modules. That isnt much of a stress test is it ?

The small chimney will result in a small overpressure and a boiling temperature > 100 Celsius, so I am not impressed by 100.5 Celsius

I must admit that I didnt reach these dismal conclusion on the day. It took about 3 days of pondering what I had seen before all the pieces of the puzzle dropped into place.

It may be this explains why Rossi has been able to convince so many qualified people.
You dont want to believe it is just a gross and extremely simple circus trick.

He certainly has a charming manner; I liked him and would never suggest he has criminal intent. My hunch is that he did make a discovery that goes beyond the level acheived by Piantelli and Focardi, but that he got too enthusiastic too soon, before he had really done due diligence. He is now trapped in the web of commitments and claims he has made. A tragic figure really.

PS I was in experimental atomic physics research at Oxford from 1981-1989 and have since that time been an employee of the European Patent Office.</ref>

===Presentation on September 7,2011===
On September 7th 2011 a further test was attended by Mats Lewan of Ny Teknik. A newer, bigger model of the E-cat, with measurements of 50 x 60 x 30 centimeters and a weight of 80 kg (without water) was used. This model is said to be used in a 1 Megawatt plant in USA. The E-Cat was preheated for 90 minutes with 2.6 kilowatt electrical energy. Then it run without external energy supply for 35 minutes. Again, steam quality was not measured. The temperature inside of the E-cat was specified as 130 degrees but it remains unclear if this was steam temperature. Pressure uf one atmosphere was assumed.<ref>[http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3264362.ece See the E-cat run in self-sustained mode], Mats Lewan, Ny Teknik, September 14, 2011</ref> At drainage a steady flow of water can be seen, Mats Lewan report mentions 5.0 to 6.5 kg/hour. Considering these assumptions Mats Lewan estimates the output to 3.5 to 8 kilowatt.<ref>[http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3264365.ece/BINARY/Report+E-cat+test+September+7+%28pdf%29 Test of Energy Catalyzer], Report by Mats Lewan</ref>

Critics observe, that again steam quality was not measured. In contradiction to previous contrary claims it was obvious in this test that the steam was not dry and that several litres went down the drainage. The calculations of Mats Lewan are based on several assumptions that were not measured. If the drainage was smaller than the intake, pressure might have been far higher which would explain the rising temperature after deactivation of the heater. Raising the pressure would lead to a further increase in temperature.<ref>[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/09/15/collected-comments-on-sept-7-afternoon-rossi-test/ Collected Comments on Sept. 7 Afternoon Rossi Test], Steven B. Krivit, September 15, 2011</ref>

===Presentation on October 6,2011===
The test on October 6th 2011 was again attended by Mats Lewan and other scientists. Again, the new E-cat model was used, this time it measured 50 x 60 x 35 centimeters and weighted 98 kg.

According to Lewan the alleged reactor was heated for 4 hours with 2.7 kilowatt (38,88 Megajoule), then it ran for 3.5 hours "selfsustained" and produced 2.5 kilowatt output (31.5 Megajoule). During this "selfsustained" phase of 3.5 hours further 115 watt were fed into it(1.44 Megajoule).<ref>[www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3284962.ece/BINARY/Test+of+E-cat+October+6+%28pdf%29 Test of Energy Catalyzer], Mats Lewan, Bologna, October 6, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3284823.ece New test of the E-cat enhances proof of heat], Mats Lewan, Ny Teknik am October 7, 2011</ref>

Mats Lewan states explicitly that he did not measure the net energy, just the gross energy production in the 3.5 hours. A possible energy drain during the heating phase was not measured and can be considered irrelevant.<ref>[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/10/10/rossis-11th-test-11th-failure/ Rossi’s 11th Test, 11th Failure], Steven B. Krivit, October 11, 2011</ref>

Stephen Krivit criticizes, that the energy that was supploed during the test run was disregarded in the calculation. In sum, an energy loss of (38,88 + 1,44 - 31,5 = 8,82) 8.82 Megajoule, a result, equivalent to a water boiler with 78% efficiency can be seen.<ref>[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/10/08/e-cat-test-demonstrates-energy-loss/ E-Cat Test Demonstrates Energy Loss], Steven B. Krivit, October 8, 2011</ref>

In the report a device that produces "frequencies" is mentioned to be activated at the start of the test. Such a device was not mentioned in previous tests. Rossi stated later, that this "frequency generator is the mysterious secret "catalyst".<ref>[http://mnispel.net/neengineer/?p=229 Rossi e-cat – Oct 6 significant test], Dr. Mark D. Nispel | October 7, 2011</ref>

===Attempts to replicate the experiments===
*In 1996, a group led by Antonino Zichichi in vain attempted to repeat the pre-Rossi Piantelli-experiment (identical in principle, except for the secret catalyst) at CERN in Geneva for one year. Authors mention established increases in temperature which, however, did not correspond to an increase in energy release:

:''The authors state, "We have found the [Piantelli-Focardi group’s] results to be consistent with our observations; namely we measured higher temperatures for the same input power when hydrogen is absorbed during a heating cycle. Nevertheless this temperature rise does not appear to correspond to an increase in heat production. We have added a temperature sensor to the container of the experiment. The temperature of the container follows the same temperature with input power curve irrespective of whether there is an anomalous absorption of hydrogen or not; therefore we have no evidence that this temperature increase corresponds to another source of heat. In conclusion, we have observed all the effects discovered by Focardi et al., but our results imply that there is no production of power associated with the absorption of hydrogen by nickel."''<ref>Cerron-Zeballos, E., Crotty, I., Hatzifotiadou, D., Lamas Valverde, J., Williams, M.C.S., and Zichichi, A., "''[http://www.newenergytimes.com/Library/1996Cerron-InvestigationOfAnomalous.pdf Investigation of Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems]''". Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 109A, p. 1645-1654, (1996).</ref>

*In 1998/1999, a further attempt to replicate the tests of the principle was carried out by scientists Luigi Nosenzo and Luigi Cattaneo in Pavia (Italy). Again, no fusion reaction or release of energy could be established over the course of several months.<ref>Adalberto Piazzoli. "[http://www.cicap.org/new/articolo.php?id=273588 ''Fusione Fredda? Una ricerca italiana'']". CICAP - Scienza & Paranormale N. 78 (Mai 2008)</ref>

*In May 2011, US physicist Brian Ahern reported tests with a finely ground zirconium-nickel-copper alloy to which he added hydrogen gas after heating it to 500 degrees. A small rise in heat in addition to the supplied electrical heating power was observed and estimated at about 5-10 watts. A publication of the experiment is not known. Ahern's claims were only published in various blogs. Ahern has been known for a long-standing supporter of "cold fusion" which he attempts to use with a company he founded, Vibronic Energy Technologies Corp. <ref>http://www.neny.org/download.cfm/Vibronic_Energy_Technologies_Corp.pdf?AssetID=1169</ref><ref>http://www.scribd.com/doc/39076066/Vibronic-Energy-Technologies</ref><ref>From: Brian Ahern, Boxborough MA</ref>

* A group of researchers ([[Giuseppe_Levi]], [[Evelyn_Foschi]], [[Bo_Höistad]], [[Roland_Pettersson]], [[Lars_Tegnér]] and [[Hanno_Essén]]) claims to have repeated the experiment successfully in March 2014. Apparently, no ionizing radiation was detected.<ref>http://www.sifferkoll.se/sifferkoll/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/LuganoReportSubmit.pdf</ref>

Re:

Zr-Ni-Cu alloy performance Ames National Laboratory processed metal alloy foils via arc melting followed by melt spinning. This is the Yamaura process employed by Arata and others. The foils were baked in ordinary air at 445C for 28 hours. The brittle, oxidized foils were placed in a tumble mill for 24 hours. This resulted in 30 grams of black powder with a median grain size of about 40 microns.Presumably, each grain has about one million nanoscale islands of NiCu inside. The 30 grams occupies about 7 ml inside the 50 ml dewar. The system was vacuum baked at 220C for 24 hours and cooled to room temperature. H2 gas was added at 200psi. The pressure dropped only to about 185 psi over twenty minutes. In these replication experiments the exothermic reactions have had peak temperatures above 220C with substantial loading above 3.0 H/M ratios. This time the temperature only rose by 2 degrees C. The system was heated with a band heater to high temperature. There was no controller. A rheostat was set at an arbitrary position and the system comes to a an arbitrary temperature.The average power input was 90 watts. After several hours the hydrated system was evacuated overnight at a constant high temperature at 530C. The next day H2 gas was again added at 100psi and the temperature rose by 40C to 570C and came back down to 530C after two hours. At the end of the day the dewar was again evacuated while still at 530C overnight. The third day repeated the same procedure. H2 gas was added at 100psi and the temperature rose by 44C to 574C. However, this time it did not come back to the initial temperature. It remained at the elevated temperature overnight. On the fourth day H2 gas was again added at 100psi and the system rose by 50C to 580C and again stayed at the elevated temperature indefinitely. A rough calibration suggests that the 30 grams of hydrated nanopowder is putting out 5 watts of excess power. Yesterday Peter Gluck suggested that the relationship between loading and excess power may be a myth. This seemed to be true for electrolysis with Pd and heavy water where loading levels exceeding 0.9 D/M were a prerequisite for observing excess power. My loading level with this nanopowder sample as less than 0.1 H/M. This 5 watt excess is very much less than Rossi, but it is a real and repeatable experiment There was no radiation above the background level. Other alloys from Ames NL are expected within ten days.</ref>

==Inventor Andrea Rossi==
[[image:petroldragon4.jpg|Andrea Rossi at Petroldragon lawsuit (Source: newspaper L'Unita")|thumb]]
[[image:Kensington_university.jpg|Reimbursement offer of [[diploma mill]] "Kensington University Inc." to its customers|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rossi_CV.jpg|Rossi CV on his website (March 4, 2011)|thumb]]
[[image:petroldragon3.jpg|View of a Petroldragon compound (Source: newspaper L'Unita")|left|thumb]]
[[image:petroldragon2.jpg|Andrea Rossi in front of Petroldragon reactor (Source: newspaper L'Unita")|thumb]]
[[image:petrol_dragon_airuno.jpg|Petrol Dragon premises at Airuno with tanks for used oil (Image: merate online [http://www.merateonline.it/articolo.php?idd=6256&origine=1])|left|thumb]]
Italian inventor Andrea Rossi was born on June 3, 1950 in Milano. In a curriculum vitae presenting his occupational history on his website<ref>http://ingandrearossi.com/gli-inizi/</ref> (see picture on the right dated March 4, 2011), Rossi specifies he graduated in philosophy at the University of Milan and mentions a second "Laurea" title (common term for a final degree at an Italian university with an obligatory doctorate) in "Ingegneria Chimica" (chemical engineering) at a Californian "Kensington University Inc.". This company was officially registered in Hawaii, but operated from Glendale in California<ref>Kensington University, 520 E Broadway Suite 400, Glendale, CA 91205 </ref> and was a wellknown [[diploma mill]] until it was shut down on court orders.<ref>Article in "LA-Times": ''Kensington University Faces Closure Hearing''. April 23, 1996 | JOHN CHANDLER, TIMES STAFF WRITER. Kensington University has no classrooms, laboratories or dorms. Its students don't play football, join fraternities or linger dreamily on a quadrangle. In fact, the entire campus is housed in a small Glendale office building. Recruiting from across the nation, the school runs a program in which students studying entirely at home can earn anything from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate--all without ever attending a single class or even meeting their instructors face to face.</ref><ref>http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education</ref>. The company was sentenced to restitute all former customers (see picture to the left) after it had been reported to the law by a consumer protection organisation.<ref>http://hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp/udgi/lawsuits/kensington/kensington_u_dj.pdf</ref>

In March 2011, Andrea Rossi was confronted by a journalist who accused him of holding an engineering title from a diploma mill. Rossi replied this was an ''honorary title'' awarded to him for an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claimed he did not know anything about the company "Kensington University Inc.". He explained he had a regular title, ''Dottore Magistrale in Filosofia'', of Università degli Studi di Milano from December 10, 1975<ref>Contribution of user Matslewan on March 23, 2011 in English Wikipedia: ''As a journalist I have interviewed Rossi and he says that the title from Kensington University is an honorary title he gained because of an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claims he knows no more about this university.''</ref>

The "Rossi Energy Amplifier" is not the first invention made by Andrea Rossi. During the 1970ies and 1980ies, he tried to produce hydrocarbons from waste to no avail. This resulted in several law suits and criminal cases with prison sentences against the "Sheik of Brianza" (''Sceicco della Brianza'', sheik because he claimed to produce oil from industrial waste. Brianza is a region north of Milan). The law suits were also known as "Petroldragon affair", since Rossi's company was named "Petroldragon". Italian Wikipedia has an article on the affair: [http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroldragon Petroldragon]. Rossi was convicted because he did not dispose of large amounts (58,000 tons) of toxic waste in accordance with regulations, and for trafficking waste materials. According to an article in Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" of April 6, 1995, Rossi and one Michele Pizzato were arrested twice.<ref>FASANO GIUSI, "Corriere della Sera" vom 6. April 1995: 
Manette bis per Andrea Rossi La Procura di Ariano Irpino accusa l’ inventore del ” refluo petrolio ” di riciclaggio di denaro sporco. Ricercato il corriere della banda che avrebbe trasferito con furgoni blindati oltre 2 tonnellate d’ oro 
MONZA. Se finora ha creduto di essere nei guai si e’ sbagliato. Andrea Rossi, inventore del chiacchierato procedimento per trasformare in petrolio la spazzatura e i rifiuti industriali, e’ molto piu’ che in semplici guai. Di tutte le “tegole” che gli sono piovute addosso finora, la piu’ pesante e’ arrivata ieri dalla Procura di Ariano Irpino, in provincia di Avellino. Il giudice delle indagini preliminari Vincenzo Caputo ha emesso, su richiesta del sostituto Rosario Baglioni, un’ ordinanza di custodia cautelare contro di lui per associazione a delinquere finalizzata al riciclaggio di capitali di illecita provenienza e alla frode fiscale. La presunta organizzazione a delinquere sarebbe formata, oltre che dall’ ideatore del “refluo petrolio” e da una persona per ora irreperibile, anche da Michele Pizzato, italiano con residenza in Svizzera, uomo di fiducia di Andrea Rossi e, negli ultimi tempi, suo compagno di “sventura”. Una sventura cominciata un paio di settimane fa con le conclusioni di una inchiesta condotta dal sostituto procuratore monzese Salvatore Bellomo. Alla fine delle sue indagini, il pm monzese aveva chiesto e ottenuto l’ arresto sia di Rossi che di Pizzato per associazione a delinquere finalizzata alla falsa fatturazione e alla frode fiscale. L’ accusa riguardava la documentazione fittizia che i due avrebbero compilato per attestare la compravendita e l’ esportazione di decine di chili d’ oro, merce di cui Rossi si occupa da quasi due anni come titolare dell’ oreficeria “St. Andre’ ” di Milano (societa’ che lavora l’ oro a Luogosano, in provincia di Avellino). I due erano percio’ finiti in carcere, sperando che il castello di accuse crollasse dopo gli interrogatori. Errore. Perche’ i fatti contestati dal pm monzese hanno trovato conferma nell’ inchiesta del collega di Ariano Irpino, che da oltre un anno stava seguendo praticamente lo stesso filone d’ indagine e che adesso, nelle sue ipotesi d’ accusa, si spinge fino all’ associazione finalizzata al riciclaggio di denaro sporco. In un comunicato stampa diffuso ieri dal comando di gruppo della Guardia di Finanza di Avellino si parla in dettaglio della nuova ordinanza di custodia notificata in carcere a Rossi e Pizzato. Risulterebbe, com’ era gia’ noto dall’ inchiesta monzese, che 46 miliardi di lingotti d’ oro (ben 2.323 chili) avrebbero passato il confine italiano solo sulla carta e, inoltre, che l’ associazione a cui farebbe capo Rossi avrebbe evaso tributi per 120 miliardi con false esportazioni di congegni ad alta tecnologia. Il terzo uomo ricercato e’ il trasportatore dei lingotti, un personaggio abituato a muoversi su furgoni blindati. Sul trasferimento di fondi verso paradisi fiscali come il Liechtenstein, i finanzieri sostengono che “l’ articolazione dell’ organizzazione” era tale da far intuire che l’ obiettivo fosse anche anche il riciclaggio di denaro sporco. 
E da Milano nuova incriminazione. Smaltimento clandestino di veleni 
MILANO. Petrolio dai rifiuti tossici? Macche’ , le 58 mila tonnellate di liquami industriali accumulate dalla Petrol Dragon nelle cisterne dell’ ex raffineria Omar di Lacchiarella erano e restano un cocktail di veleni assolutamente non riciclabile. Andrea Rossi, rappresentante legale dell’ azienda, e il liquidatore Alessandro Reale sono stati incriminati dalla Procura circondariale di Milano per stoccaggio e smaltimento abusivo di rifiuti tossico nocivi. La Regione ha gia’ deciso di costituirsi parte civile, anche per ottenere i 50 60 miliardi necessari alla bonifica. L’ inchiesta era stata avviata il 14 dicembre ‘ 93 dopo il sequestro, da parte del Corpo forestale dello Stato, di un’ autocisterna proveniente dal deposito Petrol Dragon di Piossasco (Torino), sorpresa a scaricare nei serbatoi di Lacchiarella 10 tonnellate di liquami con altissime percentuali di Pcb (policlorobifenile), una sostanza tossica e sospetta cancerogena. Fasano Giusi. [http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/aprile/06/Manette_bis_per_Andrea_Rossi_co_0_9504062501.shtml]</ref> As a member of a "gang" and "criminal organisation" he is said to have smuggled two tons of gold in a money laundering operation. Newspaper articles from that time (in Italian): <ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/giugno/01/cella_mago_del_petrolio__co_2_000601164.shtml</ref><ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/marzo/09/petrolio_dai_rifiuti_inservibile_tossico_co_0_94030910061.shtml</ref><ref>http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/07/26/storia-di-rifiuti-tossici-miliardi-supertruffe.html</ref><ref>http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/09/11/cosi-arricchiscono-pirati-dei-rifiuti.html</ref><ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/ottobre/20/Condannato_otto_anni_mago_del_co_2_0010202627.shtml</ref><ref>http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2004/novembre/27/Riciclaggio_rifiuti_tossici_Assolto_Andrea_co_7_041127020.shtml</ref>

Rossi, however, perceived this as a repression of his allegedly ecological conversion technology. He migrated to USA after a series of criminal proceedings. Current business interests (EON srl and EFA srl) are handled by his wife Maddalena Pascucci. 

==Involved companies==

===EON Srl and Leonardo Corporation===
[[image:Leonardo_Miami2.jpg|Apartment-house at the address of "Leonardo Corp." (1331, Lincoln rd Miami Beach, App. 505). Image: Google street view|left|300px|thumb]]
[[image:Leonardo_Miami.jpg|Registration of "Leonardo Corp." in Miami Beach|thumb]]
[[image:Leonardo_Miami4.jpg|Registration page 2|thumb]]
The company EON Srl (owned by Rossi), which is often mentioned in connection with the subject, is registered both in Bondeno<ref>Eon S.r.l., V. C.ragazzi 18, I-44012 Bondeno</ref> and in Rome<ref>EON Srl, Via Ottaviano 66, Roma</ref> . The Bodeno location is said to have been heated by an "E-cat" device virtually for free for a long time. Rossi further claims he is also producing hot water in his home with an E-cat. There is no independent evidence for both claims.

In the course of 2011, inventors and undisclosed non-Italian investors (allegedly Greek) plan to offer ready-made reactors for industrial application under the marketing name "Hyperion" (not to confuse with a concept for small fission reactors of the same name in the USA). There is an official permission dating from 2006 which enables Italian EON Srl to operate a small power plant, fuelled by bio diesel, producing electric power up to 1 megawatt in the town of Bondero. Inventors also claim to currently work on a small power plant which combines 120 interconnected energy-amplifier reactors of equal electric power of 1,000 kWs either in Greece or in USA, which is supposed to be finished by October 2011 and will cost 2 million dollar. Greek company „Defkalion Green Technologies S.A.“ is mentioned as manufacterers.

There is a ''Leonardo Corporation''<ref>Leonardo Corporation, 116 South River Road, Bedford, N.H. 03110 - USA. Website: http://leonardocorp1996.com</ref> located in Bedford, New Hampshire, USA owned by Rossi which is listed as contact address for EON. Their e-mail address is identical with that of EON Srl in Italy. The phone number is a collective number applying to several companies located at the same address which is a so called "business park". This company and Greek Defkalion are supposed to build the future "reactors". It currently offers electric generators fuelled by bio diesel (with turbo chargers and intercooling). The company claims a high degree of efficiency due to its patented "EON" technology which was able to recover incurred thermal losses. In a business entry from 2012 an address in New Boston is mentioned for Leonardo Corporation.<ref>Leonardo Corporation, 8 Town Farm Rd, New Boston NH 03070 [https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?414253]</ref>

Leonardo Corp. is registered in Miami (Florida), too, in an appartment in a block situated in a residential area. The telephone number (603) 4875192, however, belongs to an extension in New Hampshire.
It is somewhat hard to imagine that production of a Rossi Energy Catalyzer was possible at any of these addresses, let alone building a 1 MW power plant.

In June 2011, U.S. attorney David Niebauer from San Francisco added an entry to his blog, reporting he had met with Rossi. Rossi explained he was still looking for a partner to realize a 1 MW small power plant in the United States. He claimed to have offered a demonstration to NASA, but only if they agree to purchase an operating plant once his device obtained the expected efficiency.<ref>Rossi Energy Catalyzer, "The New Fire"? Posted on June 10, 2011 by David Niebauer by David Niebauer I have just finished listening to an astounding podcast of an interview with Dennis Bushnell, Chief Scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, talking about low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) and devices that are apparently generating significant energy in the form of heat, with very little input of raw material and no radioactive waste. Bushnell makes reference to Andrea Rossi, an Italian inventor who claims to have discovered a previously unknown source of energy by combining pressurized nickel powder with hydrogen and a catalyst. Rossi has filed for international patent protection, but he is guarding the precise mechanism as a trade secret until the patent issues. I first heard of Andrea Rossi in January of this year on the site Next Big Future where it was reported that Rossi had demonstrated his Energy Catalyzer (or E-Cat, for short) in Bologna, monitored by independent scientific representatives of Bologna University. Ny Teknik, a Swedish technology magazine, reported that, “For about an hour it produced approximately 10 kilowatts of net power, loaded with one gram of nickel powder pressurized with hydrogen. See Wikipedia entry for background. Since that time Rossi has repeatedly demonstrated the device and it has received validation from the Swedish Skeptics Society, among others. Demonstration devices have now also been delivered to the University of Bologna, the University of Uppsala and the University of Stockholm for extended testing. According to Bushnell, what is occurring in the Rossi device is a nuclear reaction, but it’s not a cold fusion. He claims it is a reaction of the Weak Nuclear Force. Bushnell believes that heat is generated from beta decay of subatomic particles and that, applying quantum theory, physicists will soon be able to explain the mechanism. The physics is not well understood, which is fueling a certain amount of skepticism. I recently met with Andrea Rossi and find him to be genuine and credible. Rossi told me that he would like to have a 1MW plant operating in the US by October of this year. He is looking for the right partners to help him enter the market in the United States. According to Rossi, Bushnell is on the wrong track, at least from a theoretical perspective. “If beta decay explained the reactions in my device, I would have been killed already [by the radiation] and we would have found different isotopes,” Rossi told me. He claims that he has a good handle on the theory, but he won’t disclose it until his patent is granted. Bushnell states that NASA is just now finishing a testing lab designed for the specific purpose of investigating LENR. With Rossi making news since early this year that he has built an operating LENR, I hear Bushnell making a pitch to have it tested and validated by NASA. According to Rossi, he will do a demonstration for NASA only if they agree to purchase an operating plant once his device obtains the expected efficiency. Rossi is intent on moving his Energy Catalyzer from the testing lab into the field. I don’t pretend to understand the physics, or to be in a position to know for certain whether the Rossi Energy Catalyzer is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. I will therefore let Dennis Bushnell have the final word for now: “I think we are almost over the “we do not understand it” problem. I think we are almost over the “this does not produce anything useful” problem. I think this will go forward fairly rapidly now. If it does, this is capable of, by itself, completely changing geo-economics, geo-politics, and solving climate issues.” David Niebauer is a corporate and transaction attorney, located in San Francisco, whose practice is focused on financing transactions, M&A and cleantech. www.davidniebauer.com</ref>

===EFA srl===
Italian company EFA srl, based in Bologna<ref>EFA srl, Via Marsili 4, I-40100 Bologna</ref>, is a company of limited liability and run by Rossi's wife Maddalena Pascucci who holds 70% of its shares. A minority stake is held by a business consultant by the name of Giuliano Guandalini who had previous business connections to Rossi. EFA also owns distribution rights for Europe and is a contractual partner both for Bologna University (as of June 2011, the contract was not signed) and Defkalion.

The same premises housing EFA – Via Marsili 4, Bologna – are also residence of a company Systems GM 2000th (Giuliano Guandalini) owning the rooms in which Rossi happens to conduct his experiments.

===Leonardo Technologies Inc.===
[[image:LTI.jpg|Thermoelectric miracle device of LTI|thumb]]
Leonardo Technologies Inc. (LTI) is another company registered in USA co-founded by Rossi<ref>LEONARDO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 116 S River RD, BEDFORD, NH 031106734</ref>. However, he sold it at the end of the 1990s. LTI in Manchester (NH/USA) tried to develop thermoelectric modules with miraculous degrees of efficiency. Such elements work due to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect thermoelectric effects] (see also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling thermoelectric cooling], enabling them to convert temperature differences to electrical voltage. Voltage is very low but through serial circuits higher voltage can be achieved. Efficiency is known to be very low. It ranges between 2 and 4 percent and useful applications are limited to special needs ("plutonium cells", satellite supply without sun collectors). Such converters would be of commercial interest only if efficiencies beyond 15% were achieved. LIT claimed it was able to realize thermoelectric modules (TE-devices) with a 20% efficiency. They further claimed they were able to build big converters with a capacity of several kilowatts. A collaboration with the university of New Hampshire was agreed upon. A device with 1 A and 100 volt (100 watt) was presented. Rossi later continued his research in Italy. The American Department of Defense showed some interest, had the company CTC (in Johnstown, PA) test several devices of LIT and released a test protocol<ref>http://dodfuelcell.cecer.army.mil/library_items/Thermo(2004).pdf</ref>. The modules did not prove to be very reliable Out of 27 devices, only eight worked at all. Instead of 800 to 1,000 watt claimed, they only produced 1  Watt of power. Further problems were thermal expansion and contact issues. Other modules sent later did not produce more power than regular devices commercially available.

On the website leonardo-ecat.com a personnel list was published in November 2011: (now deleted) ''Personnel Ing. Andrea A. Rossi, Inventor Prof. Sergio Focardi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. Giuseppe Levi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. Stremmenos Christos (Athen University – Greece) Prof. Alberto Carnera (INFM – University of Padova – Italy) Prof. Pierluca Rossi (University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. Luciana Malferrari (University of Bologna – Italy) Prof. George Kelly (University of New Hampshire – USA) Sterling D. Allan, Advisor, webmaster Hank Mills, Web content''<ref>http://www.leonardo-ecat.com/fp/About/Personnel/index.html</ref>

===AmpEnergo===
[[image:Coldstream_Park_Office_Park.jpg|Coldstream Park Office Park (Image: NAI Norwood Group, Bedford NH [http://www.nainorwoodgroup.com/propdocs/116%20South%20River%20Road%20Building%20A.pdf])|300px|thumb]]
US startup company AmpEnergo Inc., founded on April 20, 2009 in Bedford, New Hampshire<ref>AmpenErgo Inc., 116-G South River Road, Bedford NH 03110</ref><ref>President: Karl Norwood, founders and main shareholders: Karl Norwood (NAI Norwood Group, Inc.), Richard Noceti (LTI-global.com), Robert Gentile and Craig Cassarino. Minority shareholder: Ronald Engleman</ref> (Website: [http://ampenergo.com/]) signed a contract with inventor Andrea Rossi in March 2011. While "Leonardo Corp." is to build the energy catalyzers, marketing is planned to be done through AmpEnergo. According to Swedish journal Nyteknik, Rossi received a fincancial grant from this company.<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3179019.ece</ref> According to information from the press, AmpEnergo is currently looking for inventors.
The address of AmpEnergo is "Coldstream Park Office Park" owned by real estate company NAI Norwood<ref>http://www.nainorwoodgroup.com/propdocs/116%20South%20River%20Road%20Building%20A.pdf</ref>. According to owners, the building is heated with an electrically operated heat pump. The address is identical with that of real estate company NAI Norwood Group and of Norwood Management Karl Norwood Inc., owned by real estate agent Karl Norwood.<ref>NORWOOD MANAGEMENT KARL NORWOOD INC, 116 S RIVER RD UNIT A, Bedford, New Hampshire 03110</ref><ref>NAI Norwood Group, Inc., 116 South River Road, Bedford NH 03110</ref> and also of Leonardo Corp. and Leonardo Technologies Inc.<ref>LEONARDO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 116 S River RD, BEDFORD, NH 031106734</ref> owned by Andrea Rossi. The phone numbers of all those companies are identical too ( (603) 668 7000). Despite having been founded in 2009 already , no phone number is known for AmpEnergo Inc. The company is not registered in any phone book or yellow pages in the USA. (as of May 2011)

===Defkalion Green Technologies===
[[image:defkalion_logo.jpg|left|thumb]]
[[image:defkalion4.jpg|Defkalion Management|thumb]]
[[image:defkalion2.jpg|Alexandros Xanthoulis (born 1954), vice president. Xanthoulis also represents Cypriot PRAXEN Defkalion Green Technologies Ltd.|left|thumb]]
[[image:defkalion3.jpg|David Christian Aurel (born 1969), Managing Director. Aurel is also CEO of Invest Bank Montenegro|thumb]]
[[image:Defkalion_PK3.jpg|Inventor Rossi with Hauard Chen of "China Research Center for Public Policy"|thumb]]
[[image:Defkalion_science.jpg|Citation: ''The science behind the Ecat increases the probability of particles overcoming the electrostatic potential Coulom barriers in order to penetrate the nucleus by the quantum mechanical tunneling effect, yielding in an exothermic reaction between Hydrigen and Nickel. By decreasing the surface upon which a given amount of pressure is exerted, the odds for the tunneling effect to occur are increased, allowing für higher penetrability of the Coulomb barrier.'' (Website Defkalion 24.06.2011)|thumb]]
There is a small startup company in Athens named "Defkalion Energy" resp. "Defkalion Green Technologies S.A."<ref>http://www.defkalion-energy.com/</ref><ref>http://newenergytimes.com/v2/sr/RossiECat/docs/DefkalionBoardRegistration.pdf</ref> (named after [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deucalion Deucalion], son of Prometheus in Greek mythology), owned by various investors who, according to Rossi, shall produce some of the energy catalyzers. However, at the end of July 2011 it came to a dispute and to the end of the collaboration. Rossi announced that he would sue Defkalion.

The owners of Defkalion are unknown, but are accordng to Defkalion mostly Greeks with current residence in Canada (64% shareholders) and from Middle Eastern countries Defkalion's major shareholder is a PRAXEN Ltd. based in Limassol (Cyprus).

<ref>The following people are known from the management of Green Technologies: 
*Sortikos George (born 1942) president. (Architect, previous president of "Ω Βank", and owner of Oxymachon company)
*Alexandros Xanthoulis (born 1954), vice president. Xanthoulis also represents the Cypriot PRAXEN Defkalion Green Technologies Ltd.
*Christos Stremmenos (born 1932), vice president (former professor at Bologna University and former Greek ambassador in Italy)
*George Xanthoulis (born 1987), son of Alexandros Xanthoulis
*David Christian Aurel (born 1969), Managing Director. Aurel also is a CEO of Invest Bank Montenegro.
*John Chadjichristos (born 1958), corporate consultant
*Andreas Meidanis (born 1953), industrialist
*Muafak Sauachni (born 1961), medical doctor from Israel
*Andreas Drugas (born 1945), corporate consultant
*Symeon Tsalikoglou, press spokesman</ref>

Cyprus-based PRAXEN Ltd., connected to Defkalion vice-president Alexandros Xanthoulis, is in a position to keep its shareholders anonymous according to Cypriot law. Andrea Rossi's wife Maddalena Pascucci seems to focus on controlling the commercial aspects of the business in energy catalyzers. She is a director of Italian EFA srl which has business connections to PRAXEN Defkalion Green Technologies Ltd. <ref>Praxen Defkalion Green Technologies (Global) Ltd., is based in Cyprus; it owns the contract signed with the inventor regarding the industrial secret with right of first refusal to sell globally except the US. (Specified on Defkalion-Website, 24.6.2011)</ref>

While Rossi's "Leonardo Corp." will handle business in USA, Greek company Defkalion was said to hold the license for sales in Greece and the Balkans and was probably to be in charge of worldwide business(except USA). In August 2011 Rossi announced that Defkalion has no rights to his inventions anymore. According to Greek journal "Investor's World", premises of a former factory in the town of Xanthi have been bought, on which a 1 MW-small power station equipped with Rossi's energy catalyzers is supposed to be built; these premises will manufacture energy catalyzers in future. A total of three plants is to be built in Xanthi. The same source claims that Defkalion must be regarded a "200 million Euro investment". Half of the investment money (about 100 millions) is said to go to inventor Rossi later.<ref name="talefta" /><ref name ="scan" /><ref name="Investors World Article" /> According to Rossi he will start with the production of his E-cat devices, even if the filed patent won't be granted. He also wants to continue production even if competitors understand his invention through reverse-engeneering.<ref>From a chat conversation at Nyeteknik on March 12, 2011</ref> According to press information, Defkalion intends to begin producing E-cats in 2012, at an annual production of 300,000 devices. During the first year, however, only 40,000 units were to be produced. Between 125 and 200 new jobs were to be created in Xanthi. It was claimed in June 2011 that the investment sum was 300-400 million euro.<ref>Citation: ..''Presented on Thursday, finally, officially, the energy investment project of the Greek company Defkalion Green Technologies SA on the industrial application of scientific discovery of the famous "cold fusion nickel and hydrogen" Italian professors Sergio Foccardi and Andrea Rossi has created great interest internationally''....''Investing a total budget of 300 to 400 million, includes three industrial units, which will settle in Thrace''.. Source: Article "Investing 400 million in Xanthi for "cold fusion" of hydrogen", in "Energy Press", 23.6.2011</ref>

The business model of Defkalion allows long-time leasing of "E-Cat" devices to private clients. A 10 kW or 20 kW facility (information is ambiguous) is said to cost 1,300 Euro per year, including operational costs and "fuel replacement", handled by manufacturers through replacing the device.

At a press conference on June 23, 2011<ref>Panel Speakers:
Andrea Rossi
Professor Christos Stremmenos
Alexandros Xanthoulis as representative of the investors

Media Participation:
Greek national television channels
Skai / ANT1 / NET
Greek radio stations
Skai / ERT
Greek print media
Real News / O Kosmos tou Ependiti / Kerdos / Xanthi Press / H Gnomi / Axia / Makedonia
Italian media
Rai24 / Rai1 / independent online journalists
Swedish media
E-Cat report / Independent online journalists
International press
European Press Agency / Associated Press
Environmental agencies

Public Figures:
Hellenic Ministry of Regional Development (Industry & Energy)
Alternate Minister, Socratis Xinidis
Federal German Green Party
Member of the Executive Board, Rene Ramminger
Municipality of Palaio Faliro
Mayor, Dionysis Hatzidakis
Municipality of Athens, Sport & Youth
Deputy Mayor, Toula Psaraki
Greek Technical Chamber of Commerce
Chairman, Christos Spirtzis
Union of Greek Chambers of Commerce
Chairman, George Kassimatis
Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce
President, Yanos Gramatidis
LARCO (Nickel company of Greece)
CEO, Anastasios Barakos
Federation of Industries of Northern Greece
representative
Professors and scientists from numerous universities in Greece and abroad
International visitors: Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Italy, Germany, Sweden, UK, USA. [http://www.defkalion-energy.com/news_details_pconference]</ref> it was reported that contacts were established to a "China Research Center for Public Policy", whose representative Hauard Chen attented the press conference. Further attendees were politicians from the German Green Party as well as representatives of the Baden Wuerttemberg state government. These informations are established in several Greek newspapers.<ref>http://www.xanthipress.gr/eidiseis/politiki/8178-episimi-parousiasi-tiw-defcalion-.html</ref><ref>http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=de&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.xanthipress.gr%2Feidiseis%2Fpolitiki%2F8178-episimi-parousiasi-tiw-defcalion-.html</ref><ref>http://www.xronos.gr/detail.php?ID=69953</ref> As a single name one René Ramminger was mentioned, maybe speaker of Berlin "AG Soziales & Arbeit KV Tempelhof-Schöneberg" of "Bündnis90/Die Grünen"/Berlin.

While the website of EON Srl has been "under construction" for months now, the page of Defkalion offered since the press conference at the end of June a contact address in Athens.<ref>Defkalion Green Technologies S.A., Temporary Head Quarters - Mesogeion Avenue 2-4, Athens Tower, 18th Floor, GR-11527 Athens, Tel: +30 210 7770602, Fax: +30 210 7770608. Email: info@defkalion-energy.com. Domain registrant is one Andreas Meintanis from GR-19200 Elefsina.</ref>, later, in Juli 2011 an Address in Glifada was mentioned.<ref>Defkalion Head Office, Xanthou 3, Glifada, GR-16674 Greece. Tel: +30 210 7770602 - Fax: +30 210 7770608</ref> Furthermore future E-Cats with 5-30 kW are promoted on the website as "products" but no prices are available. A „Defkalion white paper“ was shown which states some details on Rossi-reactors. English observers found numerous mistakes and errors in used units of size (Examples:.. Power consumption: "0.5kw/hr", ‚"Series C Hyperion 20kW product can generate up to 157 Mw in one year of operation"..). This text disappeared immediately from the website. Defkalion stated the alleged functional principle as:
:"The science behind the Ecat increases the probability of particles overcoming the electrostatic potential Coulom barriers in order to penetrate the nucleus by the quantum mechanical tunneling effect, yielding in an exothermic reaction between Hydrigen and Nickel. By decreasing the surface upon which a given amount of pressure is exerted, the odds for the tunneling effect to occur are increased, allowing für higher penetrability of the Coulomb barrier.''

it was also declared by Defkalion that by "pressure increase" (apparently based on hydrogen) the output of the reactor could be controlled.

===Transaltec AG===
[[image:Andrea_Rossi_Adolf_Schneider.png|[[Adolf Schneider]] (right, [[Transaltec AG]]) with wife and Andrea Rossi. Picture: [http://www.borderlands.de/net_pdf/NET0911S4-15.pdf])|thumb]]
It became known end of 2011, that the swiss company [[TransAltec AG]] of [[Adolf Schneider]] tries to sell the E-cat.<ref>http://transaltec.ch/facma/design.php?design=2</ref>

===Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.===
[[image:Allan-Rossi.jpg|[[Sterling Allan]] (right, company [[Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.]]) and Ecat-inventor Andrea Rossi|thumb]]
The company [[Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.]] of [[Sterling Allan]] is also doing business with Andrea Rossi. According to "New Energy Times" owner Allan is a paid "sales agent" to market Rossis E-cat. It became also known that Allen is paid for publications and "news stories" about the E-cat. Allen is webmaster of the internet site of Leonardo Corporation in Bedford (New Hampshire/USA) since 2011.

==Funding and former Cooperation with Bologna University==
Rossi declares to have spent 500,000 Euro on experiments with more than 1,000 E-cat reactors, financed e.g. with earnings from his previous company Petroldragon which supplied him with revenues of as much as one million Euro. In an interview in Italian television on April 18, 2011, Rossi declared he had not received any pre-delivery payments or payments at all from customers. Rossi only meant to earn revenue or license fees when sales commenced. In contrast to that, it became known in May 2011 Rossi had already concluded a contract with the company AmpEnergo and payments had been made.

The University of Bologna had agreed to a collaboration, the Faculty of Physics should have received Euro 500,000 from Rossi in order to support development. According to other sources the faculty received as much as 1 million Euro. The research unit is said to consist of the following persons:
Ennio Bonetti, Enrico Campari, Loris Ferrari, Giuseppe Levi, and Mauro Villa. Physicist Giuseppe Levi is said to be heading these activities.<ref>''[...] Rossi is now paying the remaining 500,000 Euros to the Physics Department of Bologna University, following a new agreement under which the university will help Rossi with the continued development of the reactor and studies of its physical phenomena. According to the agreement, the work is led by the physicist Giuseppe Levi, who was the main observer when the "energy catalyzer" was demonstrated to invited scientists and media in Bologna in January 2011. Giuseppe Levi also carried out a longer test of the reactor in February, lasting 18 hours.''</ref>

Rossi means to donate part of the revenue for children suffering from cancer:

:''The 500,000 Euros I am paying to the University of Bologna is my last money, but when I deliver the one-megawatt plant to Defkalion I get cash back. From then on, 50% will be used for expansion and 50% to treat children with cancer. I will personally look for the children whose families cannot afford their care [...]''<ref>http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3122915.ece</ref>

In January 2012 it became known that the University of Bologna cancelled the planned agreement since Rossi did not pay the agreed sums to the university.<ref>Email Prof. Dario Braga/UniBo: ''I can confirm that to the best of my knowledge the contract between the dept of physics and the EFA company has been cancelled because unfulfilled at the agreed deadline and that there is no further relationship between the company and the university based on that contract. Regards Dario Braga Professor Dario Braga University of Bologna''</ref><ref>E-CAT: DICHIARAZIONE DEL DIPARTIMENTO DI FISICA DELL’UNIVERSITA’ DI BOLOGNA Bologna, 25 gennaio 2012 – Il Dipartimento di Fisica dell’Università di Bologna dichiara che il contratto sottoscritto nel giugno 2011 tra il Dipartimento di Fisica e la EFA srl (la società italiana di proprietà di Andrea Rossi) è stato rescisso causa il mancato soddisfacimento delle condizioni al termine contrattuale previsto. Non c’è più alcun rapporto tra il Dipartimento e la EFA srl legato a questo contratto. Tuttavia, il Dipartimento di Fisica si è reso disponibile con la sua esperienza e le sue strumentazioni per svolgere autonome misurazioni sulla produzione di calore da parte dell’apparecchiatura denominata e-cat al fine di fornire una risposta all’intera comunità scientifica e all’opinione pubblica in merito al fenomeno. I risultati delle misure saranno pubblicati.</ref><ref>http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2012/01/24/university-of-bologna-terminates-relationship-with-rossi/</ref>

==Journal of Nuclear Physics==
[[image:JONP.jpg|left|thumb]]
[[image:JONP2.jpg|thumb]]
Rossi spreads claims about his inventions through his own Internet blog called "Journal of Nuclear Physics", which is claimed to be "peer-reviewed". From its subtitle „Nuclear experiments blog“, however, it is obvious this is no professional journal. "Journal of Nuclear Physics" used to be the title of a Russian professional journal, which was discontinued. An [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_Nuclear_Physics Article article in Wikipedia] lists all journals of this name.

The [http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/ website of the blog] lists a "Board of Advisers" which currently (April 2011) lists 8 names: Prof. Sergio Focardi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. Michael Melich (DOD – USA), Prof. Alberto Carnera (INFM – University of Padova – Italy), Prof. Pierluca Rossi (University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. Luciana Malferrari (University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. George Kelly (University of New Hampshire – USA), Prof. Stremmenos Christos (Bologna University – Italy) und Richard Noceti, Ph.D. (LTI-global.com).<ref>http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?page_id=2</ref> It is peculiar that several of the persons come from the circle of inventors. With some of these persons, it is not evident what may qualify them for questions of physics. George Kelly is apparently not working for the University of New Hampshire; it is unclear whether he exists in the first place. An American psychologist of the same name has already died. Michael Melich, who allegedly works for the "DOD" (U.S. Defense Department), received some attention due to weird statements. He claims to be working as kind of an undercover agent for a US secret service to whom he claims to report activities of the cold fusion scene. Guiseppe Levi, who was listed originally as an advisor, was deleted from the list at the end of January 2011 (see screenshots).

The blog also allows adding comments. But various person reported in the internet that only comments or questions not criticizing or doubting the "E-cat" will be published.

==Business competition==
In competition to the Rossi Ecat-reactor is a similar "energy reactor" of the Italian physicist Francesco Piantelli, who has founded a company "NichEnergy S.R.L." .<ref>NICHENERGY S.R.L., VIA MASSETANA ROMANA 50/A, I-53100 Siena</ref><ref>http://www.nichenergy.com ALESSANDRO MEIARINI, Via Belriguardo 128, I-53100 Siena</ref> To date (July 2011) no useful reputable publications for this project exist. According to vague details, which can be found in the Internet, inventor Piantelli claims an "energy multiplication" by a factor of 200. In contrast to the Rossi reactor no so called catalyst is said to be used.

==Patents and patent applications==
[[image:Rossi_Focardi_Patent.jpg|thumb|Drawing from patent application WO 2009/125444 von Rossi]]
Rossi has applied for a patent(WO 2009/125444 A1 EP 02259998 A1) for the method.<ref>WO 2009/125444 A1: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS. Applicant: Pascucci, Maddalena. Inventor: Rossi, Andrea. Date: 15.10.2009</ref><ref>EP 02259998 A1: VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR DURCHFÜHRUNG VON EXOTHERMEN REAKTIONEN ZWISCHEN NICKEL UND WASSERSTOFF. Applicant: Pascucci, Maddalena. Inventor: Rossi, Andrea. EP-Date: 15.12.2010</ref> The European Patent Office, as one of the International Searching Authorities of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), negatively assessed the patent specification. It criticized the invention was not presented comprehensively, and particularly that it was not evident the described reaction of nickel and hydrogen did in fact generate energy. To quote the report:
:''As the invention seems, at least at first, to offend against the generally accepted laws of physics and established theories, the disclosure should be detailed enough to prove to a skilled person conversant with mainstream science and technology that the invention is indeed feasible. [...] In the present case, the invention does not provide experimental evidence (nor any firm theoretical basis) which would enable the skilled person to assess the viability of the invention. The description is essentially based on general statement and speculations which are not apt to provide a clear and exhaustive technical teaching.''<ref>http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wads.jsp?IA=IT2008000532&LANGUAGE=EN&ID=id00000011868762&VOL=100&DOC=075642&WO=09/125444&WEEK=NA&TYPE=NA&DOC_TYPE=WOSA&TOK=Q309-A-eI6srxLYw7s9qWfbp73Y&PAGE=1</ref>

The Italian patent of the same content was granted in April 2011 with the number IT MI20080629 (''processo ed apparecchiatura per ottenere reazioni esotermiche, in particolare da nickel ed idrogeno.'').<ref>IT MI20080629 (A1), METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS. Publication date: 2009-10-10. Inventor(s): ROSSI ANDREA, Applicant(s): PASCUCCI MADDALENA.
Also published as: WO 2009125444 (A1), US 2011005506 (A1), EP 2259998 (A1)</ref><ref>http://www.uibm.gov.it/uibm/dati/stampa_elenco_info.aspx?load=info_stampMain&id=1610895&table=Invention</ref> The wording of the patent is not publically accessible and, due to reasons of secrecy, will be published at a later date.

Patent applications are required to allow experts to rebuild the described invention. Furthermore the "best method" to achieve the presented effect has to be described in the application. Rossi, however, keeps the nature of his "catalyzers" secret.

The WIPO website lists an answer of Rossi's patent attorney Cicogna dated December 17, 2010 in which he addressed the issues mentioned.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/application_rossi.004908.pdf</ref> In his answer to the Munich European patent agency, he drops 6 of formerly 15 claims. The correspondence also addresses a patent from 2005 (Yoshiaki Arata: (Juli 2005) ''Hydrogen condensate and method of generating heat therewith.'', EP1551032 [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP1551032.pdf]) held by Japanese professor emeritus Yoshiaki Arata who has been studying "cold fusion" since 1989. In his patent, Arata described methods to generate an "Arata Energy" with hydrogen isotopes which permeate finely ground metals (''metal nano-ultrafine particle ''; Arata mentions several metals, among them nickel) or alloys under energy consumption. This process is said to create a "condensate" with a decreased interatomic distance between hydrogen isotopes, explaining the emission of heat. A byproduct of the reaction was helium. According to Arata, there are several ways to apply energy: pressure, ultrasound, high electricity, laser light, magnetism, etc. Arata introduced his reactor, equipped with a Stirling engine, to the public in May 2008<ref>http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/28/28011/1.html</ref>, but explained that the principle could not be applied since helium generation "poisoned" the fusion process, so the fusion chamber had to be vented periodically, rendering any utilization uneconomical.

A patent application with the number US2011/005506 A1 was submitted by Rossi on September 16, 2010 in USA and released on January 13, 2011 by the patent office. The application does not mention cold fusion but a device to create an exothermic reaction with nickel and hydrogen. As of September 2011 no assessment of the U.S. patent office is known.<ref>[http://newenergytimes.com/v2/sr/RossiECat/docs/2011RossiUSPatentApp.pdf Method and Apparatus for carrying out nickel and hydrogen exothermal reaction], United States Patent Application Publication</ref>

Patents held by Francesco Piantelli:
* WO 95 20816 A1, Francesco Piantelli: ''Energy generation and Generator by means of anharmonic stimulated fusion''
* EP 0767962 B1 (1995), Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion. Patent''
* WO 2010058288 A1: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO, ''METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27.''
* DE69510056T2 Energieerzeugung Und Erzeuger Durch Oberwellenfreie Stimulierte Fusion, 03/02/2000
* patent application PI2011A000046 (Italy) from April 26, 2011: ''metodo e apparato per generare energia mediante reazioni nucleari di idrogeno adsorbito per cattura orbitale da una nanostruttura cristallina di un metallo''. (patent application ''Method and Apparatus for Generating Energy through Nuclear Reactions of Hydrogen Adsorbed by Orbital Capture to a Metal Crystalline Nanostructure''). Not public till October 27, 2012.

Further patents held by Andrea Rossi:
*US 2002/0046762 A1 "Thermoelectric generators", Inventor: Andrea Rossi. Filing date: Oct 4,2001<ref>http://www.google.com/patents?id=h9SMAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

A thermoelectric module including a couple formed between two bismuth telluride thermoelectrodes. The first thermoelectrode is doped with palladium, selenium, or a combination of the two. The second thermoelectrode is doped with antimony, gold, or a combination of the two. Multiple thermoelectric...
Inventor: Andrea Rossi</ref>
*WO0229908 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS (patent withdrawn). published on 03.03.2004. Applicant(s) Leonardo Technologies, Inc., 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110 / US. Inventor(s) ROSSI, Andrea, c/o Leonardi Technologies, Inc.<ref>https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP01986372</ref><ref>http://www.google.com/patents?id=AJSSAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref>
*US 6051110 ''Thermolytic distillation of carbonaceous material''
*U.S. Patent US6620994 B2 Andrea Rossi: "Thermoelectric generators" (16.9.2003)

==Reception, media coverage and criticism==
[[image:Mats_Lewan.jpg|Swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik)|thumb]]
A noteworthy reception by respective associations or universities never happened, an attempt by inventors to publish their principle in a professional magazine failed. As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Only a few physicists reacted with blog entries or comments to the topic.

Italian daily press covered the invention in a mere four articles (some of these in local sections). Additionally, a small private radio station made an interview. A Greek business journal and a private TV station covered it. „Nyeteknik“ reported in Sweden, some positive coverage was published in US "Washington Times", which belongs to the [[Moon-Cult]], in an article by Frank Perley.<ref>Frank Perley: ''PERLEY: [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/17/nuclear-future-beyond-japan/ Nuclear future beyond Japan - Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes]'', "The Washington Times", March 3, 2011.</ref>

The energy catalyzer was also covered in several blogs. The most lively interest could be observed in Italy and Sweden.

The most renowned person to comment favourably on the energy catalyzer so far has been English Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson has been known for a supporter of so called "cold fusion" for years and is the editor of the corresponding article in English Wikipedia.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Catalyzer</ref>

The most committed critic is probably Italian habilitated nuclear chemist Camillo Franchini. Another critic is the habilitated Swedish nuclear physicist Peter Ekström of Lund University. Ekström calls Rossi's invention a "hoax" and [[pseudoscience]]. He also compares it to claims made by Randell Mills for the last twenty years (BlackLightPower - see [[Hydrino]]). In his criticism, Ekström refers to the conditions necessary for fusion and nuclear transformations as well as the radiation emitted. A summary of his criticism can be found here: [http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion.pdf Peter Ekström: ''Kall Fusion på italienska'' (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English)]. Swedish professor for physics Kjell Aleklett from Uppsala University also criticized in his blog: [http://aleklett.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/rossi-energy-catalyst-a-big-hoax-or-new-physics/ Kjell Aleklett "Rossi energy catalyst – a big hoax or new physics?"]

Early 2012 Australian aerospace engineer Ian Bryce investigated the reports of the conducted tests 2012 and found, that the shown experiments can easily be conducted by misconnecting the wires of the three-core power lead: One just has to connect the earth lead to the active pin and connect the earth lead than to the heaters. It would bypass the metering instruments since it usually doesn't make sense to measure the earth lead. The extra power would suffice to explain the measured heating output.<ref name="AustralianSkeptics">[http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/news/dick-smith-slams-cold-fusion-claims/ “Cold fusion” tests misled scientists], Australian Skeptics, January 30, 2012</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Focardi-Rossi-Energiekatalysator|en=Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer|it=Catalizzatore di energia secondo Rossi e Focardi}}

==See also==
*[[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]]

==Literature==
[[image:Petrolio Dai Rifiuti.jpg|Luigi Bacialli, ''Petrolio dai Rifiuti'', SugarCo Edizioni (1979)|thumb]]
*[http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf Giuseppe Levi: "Report on heat production during preliminary tests on the Rossi “Ni-H” reactor", Univ. Bologna, Jan. 2011] (auch: [http://www.territorioscuola.com/download/Levi-Bianchini-and-Villa-Reports.pdf])
*E. CAMPARI, S. FOCARDI, V. GABBANI, V. MONTALBANO, F. PIANTELLI, S. VERONESI: "Overview of H_Ni systems: old experiments and new setup" 5TH ASTI WORKSHOP ON ANOMALIES IN HYDROGEN-DEUTERIUM LOADED METALS, ASTI, ITALY, 2004, XP002517911
*S. FOCARDI, V. GABBANI, V. MONTALBANO, F. PIANTELLI, S. VERONESI: "Evidence of Electromagnetic radiation from Ni-H Systems" 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONDENSED MATTER NUCLEAR SCIENCE 2004, MARSEILLE, FRANCE, 2004, XP002517912
*Focardi S., Habel R., and Piantelli F., "Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 107A, p. 163-167, (1994)
*Notoya, R. et al., "Tritium Generation and Large Excess Heat Evolution by Electrolysis in Light and Heavy Water-Potassium Carbonate Solutions With Nickel Electrodes," Fusion Technology, Vol. 26, p. 179, (Sept. 1994)
*Mengoli, G., Bernardini, M., Manducchi, C., and Zannoni, G., "Anomalous Heat Effects Correlated With Electrochemical Hydriding of Nickel," Il Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 20 D, p. 331-352, (1998)
*Battaglia, A., Daddi, L., Focardi, S., Gabbani, V., Montalbano, V., Piantelli, F., Sona, P.G., and nesi, S., "Neutron Emission in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 112 A p. 921-931, (Sept. 1999)
*S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, S. Veronesi. "Large excess heat production in Ni-H systems". Il Nuovo Cimento Vol. 111 A, N.11 pp. 1233, novembre 1998
*Cerron-Zeballos, E., Crotty, I., Hatzifotiadou, D., Lamas Valverde, J., Williams, M.C.S., and Zichichi, A., "Investigation of Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems". Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 109A, p. 1645-1654, (1996).
*Adalberto Piazzoli. "Fusione Fredda? Una ricerca italiana". CICAP - Scienza & Paranormale N. 78 (Mai 2008)
*[http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/ "Il ritorno della fusione fredda", Article in the journal "Query", 31.1.2011]
*[http://www.queryonline.it/2011/02/02/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-ci-risponde-levi "Il ritorno della fusione fredda: ci risponde Levi", Article in the journal "Query", 2.2.2011]
*Peter Ekström ''Kall fusion åter i hetluften'', fysikaktuellt nr 2, May 2011, page 24. [http://www.fysikersamfundet.se/Fysikaktuellt/2011_2.pdf Full Text (Swedish)]

===News articles===
*Sibylle Anderl: ''Ein Energiemärchen - Kernfusion mit Nickel und Wasserstoff? Das kalte Gebräu im "Rossi-Reaktor"'', FAZ, 20.7.2011 (addon "Natur und Wissenschaft", S. N1) [http://www.faz.net/artikel/C30950/kalte-fusion-ein-italienisches-energiemaerchen-30468569.html Artikel bei FAZ net]
*[http://www3.lastampa.it/fileadmin/media/settimanali/tuttoscienze/PDF/5.pdf Luigi Grassia: ''Misteri - serie di test a Bologna''. La Stampa, 11.5.2011 (Italian)]
*[http://www.iltempo.it/2011/05/10/1256276-energia_gratis_parla_italiano.shtml?refresh_ce Antonio Angeli: ''L'energia gratis parla italiano - Il sogno del «generatore magico» sembra realizzato. L'ha inventato un bolognese'', Il Tempo, May 10, 2011 (Italian)]
*Ilaria Venturi: ''Fusione nucleare a freddo - "A Bologna ci siamo riusciti", article in "La Repubblica" (local section Bologna) vom January 14, 2011. [http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/01/14/news/fusione_nucleare_a_freddo_a_bologna_ci_siamo_riusciti-11237521/]
*[http://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/bologna/cronaca/2011/01/13/441795-realizzato_fusione_fredda.shtml MARCO PIVATO: ''"Ho realizzato la fusione fredda" - Annuncio choc del fisico Focardi''. Article in "Il Resto del Carlino" (local section Bologna) on January 13, 2011]
*[http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-italian-scientists-cold-fusion-video.html Lisa Zyga: ''Italian scientists claim to have demonstrated cold fusion'', physorg, January 20, 2011]
*[http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/24/italian-scientists-claim-cold-fusion-breakthrough/#ixzz1HFDdqNuC Clay Dillow: ''Italian Scientists Claim (Dubious) Cold Fusion Breakthrough'', Fox News, January 24, 2011]
*Frank Perley: ''Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes'', "Washington Times" March 17, 2011.[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/17/nuclear-future-beyond-japan/ Nuclear future beyond Japan - Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes]
*Franco, Foresta Martin, "Siena scopre l' energia pulita Fusione fredda all' italiana?," Corriere Della Sera, February 19, 1994

==Weblinks==
*[http://www.ingandrearossi.com Homepage of Andrea Rossi]
*[http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com "Journal of Nuclear Physics"]. The title suggests a physics journal but it is actually a website similar to a blog run by Focardi and Rossi, articles are allegedly peer-reviewed by "at least one" physics professor.
*[http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/technik/0,1518,801836,00.html Ralph Diermann: ''Kalte Kernfusion - Herr Rossi sucht das Glück der Menschheit'', SPIEGEL Online, 10.12.2011]
*[http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/35/35803/1.html Haiko Lietz: "Kalte Fusion als Technologie", Heise - Telepolis, 03.11.2011]
*http://www.eonsrl.com (currently no content)
*[http://newenergytimes.com/v2/news/2011/37/NET370.shtml article in "New Energy Times", 37, 30.7.2011]
*[http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/resurser/cold_fusion.pdf Peter Ekström: ''Kall Fusion på italienska'' (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English)]
*[http://aleklett.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/rossi-energy-catalyst-a-big-hoax-or-new-physics/ Kjell Aleklett "Rossi energy catalyst – a big hoax or new physics?" http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/index.asp?id=17662 (Swedish)
*http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html
*http://www.newenergytimes.com/v2/news/2008/NET29-8dd54geg.shtml
*[http://www.rainews24.rai.it/it/canale-tv.php?id=23074 Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 3.5.2011]
*[http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Rossi Article in Swedish Wikipedia about Andrea Rossi]
*[http://blog.newenergytimes.com/2011/06/28/report-2-energy-catalyzer-scientific-communication-and-ethics-issues/ S.Krivit: "report2 energy catalyzer scientific communication and ethics issues", Newenergytimes, june 28, 2011]
*[http://www.theoildrum.com/node/8140 Ugo Bardi: ''The E-Cat loses steam'', Blog "The Oildrum",27.7.2011]
*http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/12/the_nuclear_physics_of_why_we.php
*http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/11/cold_fusion_is_it_possible_is.php
*http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-11-30/no-miracles-science-story-energy-catalyzer

===Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGI12A3SWJ4&feature=relmfu at Rainews on 5.5.2011 (Italian)]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzL3RIlcwbY at Rainews on 5.5.2011 (English)]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5uChrjknJA Report in Greek television] (Greek/English)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-0WvK2b7dU] (Demonstration Bologna January 1, 2011)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE] (Demonstration Bologna January 2, 2011)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmHZrhTQhUc] (Demonstration Bologna January 3, 2011)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-8QdVwY98E Steven Krivit: "2011 - Andrea Rossi Explains His Energy Catalyzer", Video of a demonstration on June 14, 2011]
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uviXoafHWrU

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudoscience]]
[[category:Cold Fusion]]

Michael Harner

2015-06-20T15:43:09Z

Halbmond: /* Claims of Indigenous Descent */

[[image:Harner(1).jpg|thumb|Michael Harner]]
'''Michael Harner''' (born April 27, 1929, Washington D.C.) is one of the longest established contemporary authors and entrepreneurs in the esoteric market with his Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS) and his invention of Core Shamanism.

==Biography==
According to biographical information published on the FSS website, Harner received a Ph.D in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley and has taught at various institutions.<ref name="harnerbio">www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/harnerbio.html accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref> Harner did field work in South America where he became interested in „shamans“, and claims to have had experience with entheogens like [[Ayahuasca]].<ref name="harnerbio" /> In 1979, Harner founded the Center for Shamanic Studies in Norwalk, Connecticut<ref name="HarnerWP">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Harner accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref> which was renamed Foundation for Shamanic Studies in 1987. Harner also gave up his academic career in 1987 and since then has been president of the Foundation.<ref name="Stuckrad">Stuckrad, Kocku von: Schamanismus und Esoterik. Kultur- und Wissenschaftsgeschichtliche Betrachtungen. Leuven 2003, p. 159</ref> The FSS site claims Harner is an „authentic white shaman“.<ref name="harnerbio" />

Besides the genuine academic title obtained at Berkeley, Harner also claims honorary titles, such as the "Pioneers in Integrative Medicine Award" in 2009 from a „California Pacific Medical Center's Institute for Health & Healing“ and a 2003 honorary doctorate by an instituion unnamed on the FSS site<ref name="harnerbio" /> which seems to have been awarded by one California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).<ref name="HarnerWP" /> CIIS also offers chargeable FSS-courses at its premises, so e.g. the Basics and one Advanced Course in 2013.<ref>http://www.ciis.edu/News_and_Events/Event_Calendar/Harner_Mokelke_SU13_June_Basic.html accessed March 15, 2013</ref>

==Core Shamanism==
Harner came into contact with indigenous healing practices and hallucinogenic drugs during field work in South America. He not only claims to have started practicing shamanism as early as 1960-61 during a sojourn with the Shuar in Ecuador, but alleges he was recognized as a shaman by alleged shamans of various ethnic groups, like the Conibo, Shuar, Coast Salish, Pomo, Northern Paiute, Inland Inuit, Sami, and Tuvans.<ref name="harnerbio" /> Given the fact that indigenous spiritual persons and healers usually have to undergo a training which may well take two or more decades, this renders Harner's claim quite improbable and well exceeding one lifetime. Taking into consideration that such spiritual persons are also required to be fluent in the language and well-versed in the culture of their respective ethnic group, it is highly questionable that Harner will meet the requirements. However, his claim is well in line with the ways New Agers present themselves to their paying clientele.

The Core Shamanism Harner claims to have discovered and developed insists that shamanic practices and religions were once used in European cultures, too, until shamanic knowledge was ousted „by the suppressive pre-eminence of religions“<ref>www.shamanicstudies.net/Schamanismus accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref> Core Shamanism asserts there were ''„[...] underlying universal, near-universal, and common features of shamanism [...]“'' which it claims to teach particularly to ''„[...] Westerners to reacquire access to their rightful spiritual heritage [...]“''.<ref name="shamanism.org">www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/index.html accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref>

Although Harner's site today claims that ''„core shamanism does not focus on ceremonies [...]“''<ref name="shamanism.org" />, there are accounts of FSS and former FSS students selling indigenous ceremonies as e.g. sweatlodges resp. alleged indigenous ceremonies invented by FSS.<ref>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shamandebunk/message/337 accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref>. In fact, according to the announcement of the so-called Basic Workshops „Way of the Shaman“ for 2013 on the FSS website, participants are still expected to ''„[...] bring a rattle or a drum if you have one. [...] and bring a bandanna, cushion and/or blanket (if the sponsor does not provide cushions), a rough-surfaced rock approximately the size of a grapefruit [...]“''<ref>www.shamanism.org/workshops/calendar.php?Wkshp_ID=10 accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref>, indicating that the seminar includes a sweatlodge. However, this brief information to bring a „rough-surfaced rock“ leaves much room for participants bringing a stone not appropriate for high temperatures and a subsequent cooling by water; this may cause some types of rock to explode, with rock splinters taking on the speed and impact of missiles. Therefore, participation in such a lodge can be very dangerous. On the other hand, reports suggest that such stones are meant to be used in a so-called "Lakota stone oracle". This is a pseudo-ceremony propagated by FSS almost exclusively found on websites maintained by vendors who were taught by FSS, or in forum threads discussing FSS courses.

==Foundation for Shamanic Studies==
Founded in 1979 as Center of Shamanic Studies, the institution was renamed and reorganised as a foundation in 1987. The foundation resides in Mill Valley, California and is recognised as a non-profit organisation.<ref name="fsswork">www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/fsswork.html accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref>

According to its own words, FSS is „dedicated to teaching, preserving, and studying shamanic knowledge“ and has „initiated a wide range of projects and programs“.<ref name="fsswork" /> One main field of the FSS activities is offering a variety of workshops and training programmes on basic and advanced levels. Both the US and the European website additionally maintain an online shop which not only sells Harner's books, CDs etc., but also a variety of articles said to be essential to practice shamanism. An FSS article written in 2005 claims FSS at that time was teaching about 203 courses per year and had approximately 5,000 students annually.<ref name="article18page3">www.shamanism.org/articles/article18page3.html accessed Dec. 6, 2012</ref>

[[image:Uccusic.jpg|thumb|Paul Uccusic]]
FSS maintains a branch in Europe situated in Vienna with Paul Uccusic as its director.<ref name="fsswork" /> According to biographical information provided on the FSS Europe website, Uccusic studied chemistry, physics, and mathmatics in Vienna and became a journalist; in 1971 he came into contact with parapsychology and spiritual healing, met Harner in 1981 and absolved courses with FSS.<ref>www.shamanicstudies.net/Page/Key?key=UGF1bF9VY2N1c2lj accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref>

All FSS branches sell courses based on Harner's works, so e.g. on shamanic journeying, shamanic extraction, shamanic divination, shamanic dreamwork, shamanic training in creativity, core soul retrieval etc. While most courses last three days, FSS USA also offers one two-week „Shamanic Healing IntensiveTM“ and one „Three-Year Program of Advanced Initiations in Shamanism and Shamanic Healing“.<ref name="workshops">www.shamanism.org/workshops/index.php accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref> The obtrusive advertising tone at the FSS US website is rather noteworthy; most courses are advertised as „Michael Harner's shamanic [...]“. Similar to esoteric practice, FSS publishes positive customers' testimonials<ref name="workshops" />, and the 3-year-programme is said to be „widely considered as unparalleled in the world“, without mentioning by whom.<ref>www.shamanism.org/workshops/calendar.php?Wkshp_ID=22 accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref>

===FSS in Germany===
[[image:Kontakt.jpg|thumb|Olaf Bernhardt]]
A further German website offers courses according to FSS. The site is maintained by one Olaf Bernhardt who is mentioned as an FSS Europe staff member on various sites. However, Bernhardt presently is not listed as a staff member (February 2013). He is still mentioned in the list of „Core Shamanic Drum Circles“<ref>www.shamanicstudies.com/resources/drumcircle.html accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>, as a retailer of one of the FSS books, ''Shamans' stories from Tuva''<ref>www.fss.at/Page/ID/175 accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>, and as a retailer for a kit to make one's own shamanic drum.<ref>www.fss.at/Page/ID/185 accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>

Biographical information given at Bernhardt's site does not mention any academic education or career for Bernhardt, but claims he has been on the „path of the shaman“ since 1990.<ref>www.schamanismus.org/kontakt.htm, www.shamanicstudies.net/Page/Key?key=T2xhZl9CZXJuaGFyZHQ%3D accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref>

Bernhardt furthermore will publish a book in March 2013 with the esoteric publishing house Arun-Verlag owned by Stefan Ulbrich, a former member of extremist right ''Wiking Jugend'' banned by authorities in the 1990ies, and a former editor for new-right newspaper ''Junge Freiheit''; Ulbrich is also a seller of indigenous ceremonies like sweatlodges and vision quests. Arun describes Bernhardt as an associate lecturer of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies“<ref name="arun-verlag">www.arun-verlag.de/index.php/autor.html?aid=113 accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>, and as a ''[...] traditional healer. Various study trips to places of power in Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Germany. Intensive seminar activities both domestically and abroad''.<ref name="arun-verlag" />

===FSS staff===
FSS staff is called „faculty“ and FSS seems to make a special point of hiring persons with academic degrees and titles. The North American FSS presently (2013) lists 27 persons, while the European FSS institute names 25 teachers, among them German, Austrian, Swiss, British, Czech, French, and Portuguese persons.<ref name="directory">www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/directory.html accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref> Similarly, the FSS newsletter, formerly named rather unpretentiously, has been renamed „journal“ which implies the notion of a regular academic, peer reviewed publication.<ref>www.shamanism.org/articles/article18.html accessed Dec. 6, 2012</ref>

Of the 27 staff members listed for FSS in the USA, only six do not have any academic grades resp titles, one has a Bachelor, ten have a Master's, and seven hold a doctorate/Ph.D., while one is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor and Registered Nurse.<ref name="directory" />

There are 25 teachers of FSS in Vienna, only three of whom do not have any academic grades. Four staff members are engineers with a diploma, one has a Master's degree (Magister), one is a pilot, six staff members hold a doctorate. On the other hand, as many as eleven staff members are described as running their own office as alternative healers, some of these do hold university degrees in non-medical fields, but at least one of them runs an alternative practice with a doctorate as a dentist.<ref>www.fss.at/Foundation accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>

====Claims of Indigenous Descent====
[[image:Photo-retouchée-sans-bordure2.jpg|thumb|Louise Gauthier]]
The FSS staff, regular and so-called guest faculty, listed on both the US and European site are all Euro-American. None of these persons are indigenous; only one of the teachers, Louise Gauthier, claims links to indigenous cultures mentioning she ''„was introduced to Native spirituality and traditions by a friend of the family, who had been adopted by the Mohawks from the Kanesatake reservation. More recently, in the 1990s, she followed the Maniwaki spiritual leader of all North American Natives, Grandfather William Commanda, as well as the teachings from pipe carriers and grandmothers from the Algonquin, Atikamek and Mi’kmaq traditions. In 2008, she discovered an Algonquin Weskarini ancestor and can now call herself Algonquin metis.“''<ref>www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/Gauthierbio.html accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref>

First of all, the description given of the role of William Commanda is not based on facts but is a gross misrepresentation.

It has to be pointed out that one indigenous ancestor (way in the past, since this nation was scattered and largely displaced ''"in the latter half of the 17th century"''<ref name="TheAlgonkinTribe">http://www.thealgonquinway.ca/publications/TheAlgonkinTribe_4_00.pdf accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>) of course does not create any basis to call oneself „Métis“. While the term Métis is used in Canada, Métis are descendants of French/English and Cree/Ojibway ancestry with their own culture and language who are recognised as a First Nation by the Canadian government. However, a person with only one distant ancestor will not qualify as a Métis; furthermore, the name 'Weskarini' is historic and there is no present-day ethnic entity going by this name.<ref name="TheAlgonkinTribe" />

The biographical information on her own website seem to have been brushed up, since Gauthier not only claims to be "Métis Algonquine", but to have been initiated into "the" indigenous spirituality since her early childhood, to have worked with several "pipe carriers" of Algonkin nations as well as of Innu and Mohawk nations who all allegedly initiated Gauthier to different ceremonies like Sweat Lodges, Marriages, and Ceremonies of Passing.<ref name="loumitea">www.lamessageredevie.com/loumitea.html accessed March 15, 2013</ref> Gauthier not only does workshops in Canada/USA, but also in France. Her activities outside of FSS seem to be done under the aliases of "Loumitea" and "Grand-Mère Louise".<ref>www.chamanisme.fr/LE-CERCLE-DE-SAGESSE-CHAMANIQUE.html accessed March 15, 2013</ref>

However, Gauthier is not only selling indigenous ceremonies and workshops, she also practices further pseudoscientific CAM methods, among them "[[Total Biology]]" resp. "Décodage Biologique".<ref name="loumitea" /> "Total Biology" has its origins in [[Germanic New Medicine]] which contends that tumours were due to psychological conflicts and to be healed by a "conflictolysis"; it further rejects evidence-based medical therapies, pain management etc.

Another person who is not listed as FSS staff presently but taught FSS courses in the past is Carol Proudfoot Edgar who claims to be Lakota<ref name="Stuckrad" />; however, mentioning just an indigenous nation without any further specifications usually indicates a person of distant (if any) indigenous ancestry and/or a Newager trying to further sales of their workshops by claiming to be indigenous.

===FSS courses and titles===
Both FSS in the USA and in Vienna offer the so-called Basic Course and another set of courses on an advanced level. The US site further offers a five-day seminar, one two-week seminar, and a three-year programme <ref name="wkshp10">www.shamanicstudies.com/workshops/calendar.php?Wkshp_ID=10 accessed Feb. 3, 2013</ref>

For North America, 79 Basic Courses are being advertised for 2013, seven for Australia, eight for Latin America (Argentina and Chile), and four for Asia (Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan).<ref name="wkshp10" /> Additionally, there is one two-week „Shamanic Healing Intensive“ and the three-year-programme of „Advanced Initiations of Shamanism and Shamanic Healing“.<ref name="certificates">www.shamanism.org/workshops/certificates.html accessed Feb. 3, 2013</ref>

FSS in Vienna announces 77 Basic and 80 Advanced seminars. The basic courses take place in 12 countries: Germany (27), Austria (13), Switzerland (10), Italy (9), France (3), Portugal (1), Poland (2), Great Britain (2), Czechia (3), Slowakia (1), Slovenia (2), and Croatia (2). The advanced courses will take place in 13 countries: Germany (15), Austria (17), Switzerland (13), Italy (11), France (4), Poland (2), Great Britain (8), Czechia (2), Slovakia (1), Slovenia (1), Croatia (2), Netherlands  (1), Spain (2).<ref>www.shamanicstudies.net/Page/ID/110 accessed Nov.28, 2012</ref>

The advanced courses offer extraction healing training, trainings in shamanic creativity, core soul retrieval and divination, and courses in „Shamanism, Dying, and Beyond“, „Shamanism and the Spirits of Nature“, „Shamanic Dreamwork“, and a „Shamanism Practicum“. On the US site, several of these courses have been registered as a Trade Mark.<ref name="wkshp10" />

FSS Europe offers two additional advanced courses which are not part of the range of seminars on the US site: „The Power of Mountains“ which aims at finding „places of power“: ''“The Alps offer a multitude of possibilities for shamanic work with their rocks, waterfalls, glaciers, plants, and animals. Shamanic experience will be brushed up and new techniques will be tried. Furthermore, competences with mountains will be demonstrated, we will learn how to move appropriately in heights of about 2,000 metres [...] and to apply shamanic methodology on this fascinating and challenging environment“''.<ref>www.fss.at/Page/ID/34 accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref> The other one is a course titled „Vision Dance“ which is uncorrectly said to correspond with the English term „ghost dance“. The description of this course claims: ''“Visions are power, joy, and health giving realities which may give inspiration and direction to individual life as well as to communal life.“''<ref>www.fss.at/Page/Key?key=VmlzaW9uc3Rhbno%3D accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref> However, in indigenous spirituality, vision quests are not to be confused with the comparatively short phenomenon of the Ghost Dance which also only spread to a part of the indigenous nations in the USA, and to suggest these were or are one and the same may not even be characterized as neglectful. The US site has no comparable course listed for „Ghost Dance“, while FSS Europe lists five seminars planned for 2013.

[[File:Mokelke Susan head Featuer.jpg|thumb|Susan Mokelke]]
Neither the US nor the European site mention any fees charged for these seminars. As FSS is a non-profit organisation, the seminars are technically organised by the staff members who are also to be contacted regarding fees: ''“To register, obtain information, get fees and/or locations for any of the listed workshops, please contact the person or organization listed below as "contact person". The Foundation does not register participants for any of its courses and will refer you to the listed contact for any information beyond that provided here.“''.<ref name="wkshp10" /> Accordingly, only six seminars announced on the Vienna site are said to be organised by FSS, five of them with Paul Uccusic as a teacher, and one done by Susan Mokelke, who is the executive director of FSS <ref>www.shamanicstudies.net/Page/Key?key=U3VzYW4gTW9rZWxrZQ%3D%3D accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>

FSS also offers a system of certificates for participants of the seminars which is only published at the US-site:
*Harner Shamanic Counseling (prerequisite: five-day Shamanic Counseling)
*White certificate (prerequisite: two-week Shamanic Healing Intensive)
*Bronze certificate (prerequisite: three-year programme)
*Silver certificate (prerequisite: two-week seminar and three-year programme)
*Gold certificate (prerequisite: all standard advanced seminars plus five-day seminar on counseling, two-week healing intensive, and three-year programme).<ref name="certificates" />

Surprisingly, the Vienna site only mentions one „Harner Shamanic Counselors®“ and one „Shamanic Practitioner“; the Shamanic Counselor is described as ''“graduated shamanic counselors who completed a respective training with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies“''.<ref>www.shamanicstudies.net/Page/ID/192 accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>

==Reception and Criticism==
Since Harner left academia in 1987 to pursue the sales of his books and courses through his foundation, his work has no academic standing and is not recognised by anthropologists. In fact, Harner's claim to have synthesized a universal core of similar beliefs and practices in shamanic traditions worldwide has been criticised for separating these aspects from their cultural framework. Critics have described this as cultural appropriation and also as misrepresentation of indigenous cultures. Harner, same as Carlos Castaneda, is held responsible for having established the basis for a massive exploitation of indigenous cultures, and has been bestowed with the denotations of „shamanovelist“ and „shamanthropologist“.<ref name="noel">http://www.cddc.vt.edu/host/weishaus/Interv/noel.htm accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref> Harner provided ''“[...] a Western imaginative construction [...]“'' offering ''“[...] spiritual practices that [...] are simulated, with the danger of neo-colonialist misappropriation of indigenous cultural property and delusions of "direct access" to such indigenous wisdom.“''<ref name="noel" />

One main point of criticism voiced by indigenous Americans is that core shamanism assumes ''„one could easily learn methods that take decades to master among tribal traditionalists in a short time. Even [Harner's] "advanced" seminars only last three days and he is clearly engaged in a highly profitable enterprise as much as an attempt to form a new spirituality, exactly the same as the New Age.“''<ref name="pandora">http://web.archive.org/web/20050304080416/http://users.pandora.be/gohiyuhi/articles/art00069.htm accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref> Another is they ''„homogenize tribal traditions worldwide and deny their diversity and important differences by lumping several thousand belief systems together. Harner pretends one can master elements that are supposedly common or universal ("core" shamanism in his lingo) to all. The supposed commonalities of "shamanism" are largely superficial or even self-delusion. For example, many would-be "shamans" falsely claim the sweat lodges used by some American Indian groups are allegedly a "core universal shamanic" practice. [...] Not even all American Indian groups use the sweat lodge.“''<ref name="pandora" />

Other often voiced criticisms point out ''“... neoshamans such as Michael Harner as examples of the next wave of popularization of Indian spirituality, from 1960 to 1980. These New Age entrepreneurs established a workshop industry mainly attended by middle- and upper-class whites seeking the Indian experience.“''<ref name="dreamcatchers">http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_bookreviews/bkrev_shamans_dreamcatchers.asp accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref> The imminent racism of this practice is criticised since ''„the neo-shaman is one that feels justified in appropriating techniques of shamanism and marketing them for personal benefit. Furthermore, the neo-shaman mixes or “syncretes” occult notions from various religions and spiritual philosophies as if shamanism shares a common perennial basis with all religious ideas“'' and ''“Harner homogenizes what he sees as primitive mysticism and tribal ritual into one word — shamanism. He claims to have distilled the essence of that shamanism, and then he recycles it for eager customers who want a piece of authentic “Indian” experience.“<ref name="dreamcatchers" />

Harner and FSS also attribute the sweatlodge to pre-historic European cultures, as is claimed on the site of the FSS Vienna branch: ''Shamanic traditions are already to be found in Neolithic (verified in Europe approximately from 32,000 before Christ – the Cave of Chauvet [...]''.<ref>
Schamanische Techniken finden sich bereits in der Jungsteinzeit (in Europa etwa bis 32.000 v. Chr. nachgewiesen - Höhle von Chauvet […] www.shamanicstudies.net/Page/ID/110 accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref> The term used in the original version [„Jungsteinzeit“] means „Neolithic“, and therefore the claim is blatantly incorrect: the era of 32,000 years before our time is not Neolithic which, in Central Europe, only began between 5500 – 2200 before our time; even its earliest beginnings in the Middle East do not predate 11,500.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic, accessed Dec 5, 2012</ref> The era about 32,000 belongs to the Upper Paleolithic.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Paleolithic accessed Dec 5, 2012</ref> However, the religions developed by those populations are unknown and any statements about these religions remain in the realm of wild guesses and therefore are to be seen as historical misrepresentation even if the text gave that era its correct name of Upper Paleolithic. Furthermore, the Chauvet Cave mentioned accordingly does not provide any proof of Paleolithic religions, but is a site of several hundred Paleolithic paintings dating back to between 30,000 and 35,000 years ago.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chauvet_Cave accessed Dec 5, 2012</ref> The unfounded claim of dating alleged European shamanic traditions and ceremonies back to a time of 32,000 before our time on the other hand also implies a European claim to their origins, as compared to indigenous peoples.

The text also recommends an article written by one Ute Moos who is the author of a book titled ''Spiritual Healing. The Other Path to Health“ which comes with a foreword written by Michael Harner.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/Spirituelles-Heilen-Der-andere-Gesundheit/dp/3800037378 accessed Dec 5, 2012</ref>

Harner claims one of the result of his research of core shamanism is that the use of entheogens was not necessary to gain access to a different reality, and says this was already possible by drumming. This implies, however, that indigenous shamans are less knowledgeable since, in some traditions, they use entheogens; therefore, this contributes to a notion of superiority among a Western clientele. In the same way, indigenous shamans, medicine persons etc. usually undergo an apprenticeship lasting twenty or more years – core and neo-shamanism claim to achieve the same in weekend seminars.

Another point of criticism is that FSS merchandises shamanism and therefore commercialises it. This spiritual colonialism also denigrates indigenous cultures and persons, since these courses offer Western clientele a shortcut to what takes several decades in the original contexts. While in these contexts, only few individuals are seen as having shamanic aptitudes, the Western clientele is told that everyone can become a shaman<ref>www.logo.at/barrierefrei/index_bfrei.php accessed Nov. 28, 2012</ref>, or as FSS asserts its clientele, even a trainer of shamans. Such attitudes are deeply rooted in a notion of white superiority and therefore are racist in core.

A racist attitude is also the basis of the FSS goal to aid indigenous peoples to preserve their traditions, and the statement that FSS will give indigenous persons a possibility „to establish a renewed contact with their own traditions via the Harner Method“<ref name="Stuckrad" /> documents that FSS claims a power of definition what a real Indian is, how real Indians should act and behave, and that only successfully passed FSS courses will make them real Indians again, as opposed to learning the ways of their ethnic groups from their elders. However, the success of FSS may be doubted: ''“In a private communication, Paul Uccusic wrote in reply of a respective question (July 2000), FSS had repeatedly accepted enrolled Indians to participate in courses without payment (particularly in the Basic Seminar) and that this right was still in effect to this day. The idea was to teach these people only the techniques of shamanic journeys, so that they afterwards were able to find a contact to their buried roots on their own with the help of their power animals and spirit teachers. Uccusic commented very negatively on the „personal structure of many Indians“ and their „difficulties in adapting“, which made success of this measure doubtful, so Harner was thinking about changing this practice. [...] Uccusic's condescending ways towards Natives were also criticised by some participants of the shamanism congress „Wanderers between Worlds“ (in the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2000) [...]“''<ref name="Stuckrad" />

[[image:317.jpg|thumb|Jeffrey David Ehrenreich]]
Currently, the FSS website only offers reduced fees for indigenous participants which will amount to 50% of the original fee charged<ref name="article18page3" />, and apart from the letter quoted above, there are no further reports about FSS courses being available without payment for indigenous persons. On the other hand, there is an account by a person of Buryat ethnicity describing that a Buryat shamanic centre contacted FSS in 1997, with FSS simply sending them application forms for membership and a schedule of their courses in reply<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=236 accessed Nov 28, 2012</ref>. FSS also offers no proof for their claim that „[...] representatives of 54 tribes have taken advantage of this offer.“<ref name="article18page3" />

It is also noteworthy that the FSS staff does not have any indigenous teachers from English speaking countries (except for the two persons of dubious distant ancestry mentioned above), and despite its preference for teachers with an academic education, persons with a course of studies in anthropology are an absolute minority. Furthermore, FSS claims to have assisted several ethnic groups in South and North America, and this list bears an apparent likeness to the list of ethnic groups with whom Harner worked while still employed at university institutes. One of these claims asserts FSS had assisted the Paiute in reconstructing the Ghost Dance.<ref>www.shamanism.org/articles/article18page4.html accessed Nov 29, 2012</ref> This seems highly unlikely, as the Ghost Dance religion in particular has seen academic research by anthropologists for more than one century, with publications dating back to 1896 (James Mooney), 1927 (Leslie Spier), and 1930 (A.H. Gayton).

[[image:Sharner2.jpg|thumb|Sandra Harner]]
Although Harner's publications since he left academia are largely not recognized by anthropologists, a 2009 meeting of the American Association of Anthropologists ran a series of lectures and discussions titled „Papers in Honor of Michael Harner Part I and II" which were being organized by Jeffrey David Ehrenreich. Ehrenreich, an anthropologist, also invited several persons connected to FSS to give lectures, one of them Sandra Harner, Michael Harner's wife, Vice President of FSS and also a member of its Board of Trustees<ref>www.shamanicstudies.com/fssinfo/index.html accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>, as well as Marjorie Mandelstam Balzer, Frank Lipp, and Edith Turner who are all listed as FSS Field Associates on the FSS site.<ref>www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/fieldassociates.html accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref> According to the information provided in Sandra Harner's biography at the FSS site, she has no formal education in anthropology, but is a clinical psychologist.<ref>www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/sharnerbio.html accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref> FSS used this incident to claim Harner had been "honored by the American Anthropological Association" on its website.<ref>shamanism.org/news/2010/01/13/michael-harner-recognized-by-the-american-anthropological-association/ accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref> The events earned Ehrenreich an admission to the FSS Board of Trustees which was announced in the FSS E-Newsletter Volume 6, Issue 3 of September 2012, after prior publications in the FSS ''Shamanism Annual'' in December 2010.<ref>http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs045/1101293452407/archive/1111013772171.html accessed Feb 3, 2013</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Michael Harner|en=Michael Harner}}

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harner, Michael}}
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